Solitary rose

@Uootem

in the garden of our youthful days
just passed the white pick fence of remembering
stood a solitary rose... so beautiful,
shining fragile in the full moon's glow
brilliant red as passion's fire... silky to the touch...
a vivid fragrance that could inspire hearts...
dew moistened as exploring lips
that once kissed and spoke in caring whispers
neither of us noticed the pain-ladden thorns
that hid just beneath green leaves of promises.

the last time we visited this special place together
there was no need to carry a lantern... the pathway was lit with shared love.
no need for songbirds... i heard passion in your breath
no need for a cloak...on my neck i felt it -- warmth.
"dreaming in a bed is warm," we thought, so we rose
to catch scattered breath... other places were calling us.
following shadows of the moonlight, i walked away from you
and you took another pathway home
neither of us realizing what i know now... 
briefly we had felt it -- unending love.

in our innocence, neither of us were ready for permanence
we both knew it would come later -- that elusive 'true Love'
so when i gave you a poem and a rose
you didn't ask for the moon... and i didn't hold my breath.

now, i stoke a fire for burning in remembrance...
a torch that lights a path away from reality
so i can re-live those moments we shared together...
but visions in the mind don't provide much warmth...
and i sigh as i watch the passage of time
flickering in the faded shadows, longing for a view of your beauty,
standing cold in the light of the omniscient moon...
but with all the searching, i still cannot find that once shared pathway.
my soul does not feel warm... my heart feels such coldness
winters icy wind is not your breath...

then i find that rose now dying, taunting our promise of love.
a promise of eternity, of a love that was as natural as the breath
we took to inhale the rose, the scent, like potpourri of youth,
seeping into our shared dreams, warm... chasing the chills of the autumn moon.
I crawl into bed, hidden from the moonlight, wondering what was meant by our love.
i sigh again and draped my arm over your memory, warm
and on my neck i can still feel your breath...
I light a candle, in remembrance of love's pure light
and say a prayer for the saints, send her a rose of recollection...
our rose has withered, no lantern needed, only love
and with the memory of your breath, kept me warm.