Petals once dead
but red once
Hanging crisp – falling
once in a while
to the floor once in a while

a rose still rests
in a vase with water still –
turned milky
and brown still
smelling rose sweet

So red – evening burning
sun or swollen lips
turned red by kisses
blood red prick of thorn
hot red flush of face.

~~~~

Here’s a bonus poem — outside of the A to Z Challenge…enough.