Roses in December

In the last few days some of my Buff Beauty roses have stuck their ivory heads above the parapet of winter. They've paid for it. It is really worrying to see so many plants dissipating their energies in this weird new world.

Roses In December

A run of mild days and frost free nights
has tempted premature buds to appear

on bare, high-wire briars. But tonight
the mercury’s set to plummet,

and by morning they’ll be no more
than bruised and bitter tissue-paper crones.

Winter's moving with the times, becoming volatile and fickle,
with an appetite for random acts of cruelty.