Rosy Reminiscence

Lost in a crowd of thorns and stings, a rose pined for the sun. Last year I chopped the competition down: the sweet pink flowers hurled open unshadowed petals in clear day. I plucked blooms at leisure then, with red and white beads of blood and stung weals striping my arms. This year the path I hacked is grown in, but the stems of rose still reach higher. Before I can really work out why, here I am, diving through the nettles and the brambles, pulling secateurs from my pocket, snipping every stem I can reach, armfuls of fragrant pink, the hooked spikes catching in my sleeves. This bounty is brought to my new, unprepared kitchen, a selection of mugs and old bottles stand in for vases. As each flower drops, the petals are stuffed in a teapot for fresh rose tea. Only the buds are left now, snakelike heads: Medusa’s wedding hair. I’m thinking I might dry them, preserve some rose tea for winter time. Then I will sit in the short day, laughing at the impetuous dive. If I wanted to, I could worry over the fate of my rescued beauty; or, I can let it go, knowing I brought some freedom to it, and that was the limit of my influence, whether I chortle or weep.

Comments

Fran@Broken Cookies Don't Count said…

Beautifully stated! This may be a dumb question, but you can make tea from rose petals? I never knew that!

5 July 2012 at 10:45

Alida said…

you have a lovely blog. Following back!

5 July 2012 at 17:30

Lynn Proctor said…

this is very beautiful :)

6 July 2012 at 01:28

Lisa Southard said…

Thank you all- and for the record, fresh or dried rose petals make delicious tea. Refreshing and calm, perfect for protracted house moves :-)

8 July 2012 at 20:22

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