Roses and Lilacs

Winter

by Michael R. Burch

The rose of love's bright promise

lies torn by her own thorn;

her scent was sweet

but at her feet

the pallid aphids mourn.

The lilac of devotion

has felt the winter hoar

and shed her dress;

companionless,

she shivers―nude, forlorn.

Published by Songs of Innocence, The Aurorean, Contemporary Rhyme and The HyperTexts

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Roses for a Lover, Idealized

by Michael R. Burch

When you have become to me

as roses bloom, in memory,

exquisite, each sharp thorn forgot,

will I recall―yours made me bleed?

When winter makes me think of you―

whorls petrified in frozen dew,

bright promises blithe spring forsook,

will I recall your words―barbed, cruel?

Published by The Lyric, La Luce Che Non Moure (Italy), The Chained Muse, Better Than Starbucks, Glass Facets of Poetry and Trinacria

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The Donald Trumps the White House Roses

by Michael R. Burch

Roses are red,

Daffodils are yellow,

But not half as daffy

As that taffy-colored fellow.

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Isolde’s Song

by Michael R. Burch

According to legend, Isolde and Tristram/Tristan were lovers who died, were buried close to each other, then reunited in the form of plants growing out of their graves. A rose emerged from Isolde's grave, a vine from Tristram's, then the two became one. Tristram was the Celtic Orpheus, a minstrel whose songs set women and even nature a-flutter.

Through our long years of dreaming to be one

we grew toward an enigmatic light

that gently warmed our tendrils. Was it sun?

We had no eyes to tell; we loved despite

the lack of all sensation―all but one:

we felt the night’s deep chill, the air so bright

at dawn we quivered limply, overcome.

To touch was all we knew, and how to bask.

We knew to touch; we grew to touch; we felt

spring’s urgency, midsummer’s heat, fall’s lash,

wild winter’s ice and thaw and fervent melt.

We felt returning light and could not ask

its meaning, or if something was withheld

more glorious. To touch seemed life’s great task.

At last the petal of me learned: unfold

and you were there, surrounding me. We touched.

The curious golden pollens! Ah, we touched,

and learned to cling and, finally, to hold.

Originally published by The Raintown Review and nominated for the Pushcart Prize; since published by Ancient Heart Magazine (Australia), The Eclectic Muse (Canada), Boston Poetry Magazine, The Orchards Poetry Journal, Strange Road, On the Road with Judy, Complete Classics, FreeXpression (Australia), Better Than Starbucks, Fullosia Press, Glass Facets of Poetry, Sonnetto Poesia (Canada), The New Formalist and Trinacria

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Will There Be Starlight

by Michael R. Burch

Will there be starlight

tonight

while she gathers

damask

and lilac

and sweet-scented heathers?

And will she find flowers,

or will she find thorns

guarding the petals

of roses unborn?

Will there be starlight

tonight

while she gathers

seashells

and mussels

and albatross feathers?

And will she find treasure

or will she find pain

at the end of this rainbow

of moonlight on rain?

Published by Grassroots Poetry, Poetry Webring, TALESetc, The Word (UK), Writ in Water, Jenion, Inspirational Stories, Famous Poets and Poems

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She Gathered Lilacs

by Michael R. Burch

for Beth

She gathered lilacs

and arrayed them in her hair;

tonight, she taught the wind to be free.

She kept her secrets

in a silver locket;

her companions were starlight and mystery.

She danced all night

to the beat of her heart;

with her tears she imbued the sea.

She hid her despair

in a crystal jar,

and never revealed it to me.

She kept her distance

as though it were armor;

gauntlet thorns guard her heart like the rose.

Love!―awaken, awaken

to see what you’ve taken

is still less than the due my heart owes!

Published by The Neovictorian/Cochlea, The Eclectic Muse (Canada), Shabestaneh (Iran), Anthology of Contemporary American Poetry, The Chained Muse, Inspirational Stories and Captivating Poetry (Anthology)

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Auschwitz Rose

by Michael R. Burch

There is a Rose at Auschwitz, in the briar,

a rose like Sharon's, lovely as her name.

The world forgot her, and is not the same.

I still love her and extend this sacred fire

to keep her memory exalted flame

unmolested by the thistles and the nettles.

On Auschwitz now the reddening sunset settles!

They sleep alike―diminutive and tall,

the innocent, the "surgeons." Sleeping, all.

Red oxides of her blood, bright crimson petals,

if accidents of coloration, gall

my heart no less. Amid thick weeds and muck

there lies a rose man's crackling lightning struck:

the only Rose I ever longed to pluck.

Soon I'll bed there and bid the world "Good Luck."

Keywords/Tags: rose, roses, thorn, thorns, lilac, lilacs, nature, love, desire, passion, romance, romantic, spring, summer, fall, winter, seasons