Mama Zen asked us to write a short poem using a "power image." I chose the white rose, often associated with death and mourning. I forgot that I was supposed to limit myself to 25 words, so my first attempt is somewhere longer, followed by a shortened version.
Ivory roses matched her wedding gown
Juxtaposed against her tresses of brown
A single white bloom she now holds in her hand
on a chain round her neck, she wears his wedding band
Solemnity shadows the end of each year
as the names of the dead are read, she strains to hear
His name makes her clench up her fist on a thorn
With a blood stained white rose, she goes home now to mourn.
She carried ivory roses on her wedding day
Now she holds a single white bloom
wears his wedding band
on a chain around her neck
her face, paler than the petals.
submitted for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, Words Count With Mama Zen
