Weather

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The bud of a wild rose


Phil Burpee

What do you call that colour
in the bud of a wild rose
before the petals
before the fuss
before the petticoat shows?


I'm sure it isn't fuchsia
and likewise not quite red
nor really pink
nor blood, nor blush
more like sunset's wedding bed

Gallardia and prairie smoke
locoweed and flax
spread across the crazy ground
like a rainbow left its tracks

Some things I guess they just surpass
the ability of words -
certain smells on certain winds
and the languages of birds

Oh, what do you call that colour
in the bud of a wild rose?
It burns a sweet and living flame -
undimmed, though my eyes I close.


Phil Burpee

Pincher Creek

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Comments are moderated before being published. Please be civil.

Infinite Scroll