Careful and Patient Tendencies

Who tends the garden now the old mans gone?
I used to see him as I passed, trowel in hand and knees on small slip of lawn.
Posture wilting amidst the rhodedendrons,
His sacrifice for their beauty.
A lone man amongst his pride.
Pruning endlessly against the tide.
Passing smiles and appreciation kept fruits of his labour blooming.
Even when he lay down amongst the roses,
A single quickening beat pressed near the base of the stems spread through petal and leaf.

That was months ago and yet even now,
Green shoots maintain the careful tending taught by the old man's hand.
The roses know and weep scarlet petals.

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your closing line was well worth the anticipation leading up to it. It reads beautifully, and has nestled itself deep within the recess of a memory.

[UnderTheDeadPoetTree]

Thank you very much!