By the Dozen
a vase
of white roses
slowly die
by day
not a natural death
cut short
and hauled down the highway
to the market
for sale
gone is the sun
the wind
rain
four walls
without grass or leaves
bought for their beauty
beheld
a sentiment, a gesture
a notion long held
the boy at the door
the lover in love
the married man
roses require
no sonnets
or dragons slain
cut and dried
pick a color
any color
TL