I must go back

Do roses bloom as once they did?
did snow fall on the cypress tree
just in time for Christmas
and holly berries red at Michaelmas ?
and was the ivy on the wall
sparrows' noisy chatter deep
in the rampant leaves
and was the garden shed still leaning
the padlock never locked.

I must go back to see the roses
and stroke the cypress tree,
perhaps this year at Christmas;
make a wreath of holly berries
listen to sparrows' noisy chatter
from the ivy on the wall and
find the garden shed still leaning
and turn the padlock key.
Roses blooming as once they did.