Old Roses

Old Roses

Old roses
underplanted with lavender
banked purple petticoats
solid as old money
and a well trained chorus of support
a Jacobean courtyard of mellow stone
seems to be theatrically painted
ready for Shakespeare
fritillaries of yellow blossom butterfly their wings
and then waft as if waving a soft handkerchief
Juliets on a balcony
ready for my close up Mr de Mille
or dusting their Oscars
They nod to a crimson rival
give autographs with the frail grandeur of an ancient beauty
charming in their stately decay
still painted by a fine hand and perfumed by a master