(Dog Rose: A semi-wild variety held by the ancients to cause fits of doggerel.)A malicious pixie has been loose on my place.
I say to you, surely, into my garden she crept.
Dandelion, crab, and other grasses she seeded
On soil that I tilled, and nourished, and weeded.
She marred; she despoiled that one friable space
With weeds of all manner she sowed as I slept,
And lesser than I would have hung head and wept.
I’ll be up with the sun before the dew has receded
With rake and with trowel her mischief unmake
Revenge in the roses is the vengeance I’ll take