The Last Rose’s Plea

Grant Hope #167

The last rose
the last life outside of this ancient wood
comes to ask for safe passage through
whatever may lie on the other side could not be worse than another winter
only being able to watch the seasons with no other witness to bare

Looking up into the dense wood
branches curving this way and that
Seeing no way through but for its guard to let down
she offers the last bouquet before the cold ran through

She knows the passage is not easy
the tales of pernicious peril have kept her still
even with blessing
what is beyond the plain of the ancient shrine
even that has left the forest’s old mind

The trees bend with the wind
howling low to mourn the passing of a site so important to them
distinctly diverging so that a way may be shown
the union between man and nature has lost one of its homes

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