finding herself stronger than financial domination
and the smell of of silver,port and cuba
a rose bloomed
the rose was not recognised as a legitimate response
complaints were made that her behaviour was challenging
that her thorns were not reasonable or representative
of the sacrifices that had been made
in allowing any flower to grow at all in the circumstances
hints and whispers of the trouble of selecting a prudent gardener
they themselves had risen in spite of tin, queens and matches
in a neglected, motherless allotment
and they still flowered, thorn-less
they had even escaped the small plot of land
where the rustling trees and winding ivy
clung on with deep roots and biting tendrils
why couldn’t she accept
that whist flowers weeping was acceptable
thorns were only acceptable when facing inwards
a reminder of where one had come from
of how hard one had fought
of how grateful one should be
blinded by this criticism the rose became sightless to her own colours
her vibrant hues, were seen diminished,
her scent, rising headily, was attributed to others
the thorns, strong and determined, were considered a disfigurement
until they were forcefully forgotten
the rose, sweet briar, grew wrapped around brambles
mistaking a crop of blackberries for ongoing provision
hearing thunderstorms and presuming passion
and traded churchbells in compassion
but finding herself stronger than envoirnmental domination
and the smell of steel and echoes of incense
the rose bloomed, seeded and bloomed and seeded
the new blooms had vibrant hues
heady scents and strong, determined thorns
these attributes were recognised by the first as legitimate responses
jokes were made that their behaviour was challenging
that their thorns were reasonable and representative
of the sacrifices that had been made
in being allowed any flower to grow at all in the circumstances
hints and whispers of the trouble of finding a prudent gardener
she herself had risen in spite of money, port and cuba
in a determined mother’d, earth
but because she had flowered, thorn-less
she could never escape the small plot of land
with its rustling trees and winding ivy
that clung to her with deep roots and biting tendrals
she accepted
that whist her weeping was acceptable
their thorns were necessary to face outwards
to escape from where they had come from
to not have to fight
or be grateful
