THE BLACK ROSE

by Patricia Carlson

 		A rarity of rose by moonlight listens
 		Gurgled brook and cricket clicking awe.
 		And wears the emerald dew in darkness glistens.
 		Completing mystic union without flaw.
 		Implanted by the rendezvous romantic.
 		And hearing each clandestine spoken word.
 		Then calming  hearts prepared for moments frantic
 		For intervening strictures certain heard.
 		And unobserved by passerbys this rose
 		Faded by the lights transparencies,
 		But keeps remembered lovers in repose
 		To solace them when circumstance agrees:
 		Two had a mission of the mind.
 		To overcome the politics ensnaring fate.
 		Preventing high communion twixt their kind.
 		From battles fought in bloodshed's tearing hate.
 		Well known there was a pool in cooling glen,
 		Summered ebony greens bending peace.
 		Starlit pierced society clasped dreaming can
 		Embrace upholstered thrones of golden fleece.
 		But burgeoning a harmony of blind respite
 		From caring hurts ambitions caught to strive,
 		Past bread to want's encompassing delight.
 		Establishing decay to foster hive,
 		For mother's mortal foe decided strife.
 		In heralding his crown with those to die  
 		While striking nobles vie for her son's life.
 		Like God's offenses not imposed by sky
 		And there ignored by simple children's love
 		Coupled in the sweating grip of needfelt song.
 		Having screened the poisoned goes enthrall
 		With all the conscious being drawing long.
 		Forcing molten tears in passion's all
 		Breaking pains like shattered crystal treasure.
 		Folding back his hold on her abandon
 		To deftly handle most exquisite leisure;
 		Half whispered thoughts, unspokens, mindless, random
 		Buried in his neck her short breaths fan.
 		And falling warm on moistened balmy lust,
 		She finds his cunning ease tributed man,
 		And he promotes the kneaded doughy bust,
 		Welcoming close smells endowing being
 		A mixture honey, musk and golden sand.
 		Describing muscled strengths when lacks the seeing
 		Or seeing when the weakness fills their hand.
 		And sexes spared each trusting clutches
 		Serving less and equal finally living.
 		And in selfish pleasures lightly touched
 		He now, She now-absolving, offering, giving.
 		Flies the splitting hours unawares:
 		Sadly then receiving blossom light,
 		Moment last compelling eyes to share,
 		Parting steeds to flight
 		Black rose abiding.

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