Coming Up Roses

Heady haunt of fragrance assails
one foot into their domain
Surely this is Paradise?
What phantom presence floats, sweet
smothering siren of ethereal scents
draws our blood, congeals wanton will
till helpless we fall, swooned
in the splendour of dangerous
devastating petals?

So it is in wondrous witness
of their simpered silence
in the tightlipped temperance
of unopened rosebuds
thorn pierced hearts are forever vowed
to the promised perfume of love's unfurling