Prayer - upon planting roses in December

by Amber C Brodie
(California)

Baptize
roots down inside
deep down where the heat moves.
Pale tendrils seize –
Blackness.

Listen...
old sod constrains,
freezing under pale rocks.
Soft chills harden.
Loud cracks.

Only
stubble and thorns
coaxing out of the earth.
Time blinking by.
Obey.

Open
your sallow buds,
trying to hold to grace.
Foggy mirage,
open!

Mangled.
F-cking weather!
Only dead, cracking twigs...
Are you in there?
Maybe?