oh, rose

who watches a
   rose
die?

how the petals
   droop from the
      center & wilt

   slowly around the
edges;

how the color
   retreats from
      blood crimson;

   shape stiffens, rippling
      like
cardboard.

& life melts down
   ward towards
      earth; leaves falling

   away; stems turning
      wooden &
brown;

blossoms hiding in the
   roots, to flower in
      repeating
time.

& we humans,
   how do we
die?

our arteries
   harden, our
      spirits
fly.