November Poems 2024 >> let your thorns my vintage wine inspire

No. 01  
let your thorns    
my vintage wine inspire  
   
“The connoisseur does not drink wine    
but tastes of its secrets.”—Salvador Dali  
   
the subtleness of wantonness is as unsubtle as the sobering rain  
that blesses the receiver, as it sweeps his humble hopes into the drain.  
for this same cause must i take pause to anchor hope upon a higher plane,  
that when the deluge comes, my pains of yesterday may slay me not again.  
   
the kindness of all kinds of friends who occupy my person and my space  
is not night-blindness that should grind less preparation for my rainy days,  
lest morning finds me left behind free rations and a diminuting grace  
that owns me not, but frowns me hot, to think free friendships shoot to last always.  
   
for love i’ve lost, i count the cost in how i fix my heart to love again:  
the sacrifices and the crises measure, still, the pleasures and the pain;  
yet, giving and forgiving qualifies no lover to expect no strain,  
for he must learn a way to burn, and yet not make vain love drive him insane.  
   
come be my rose rush with your blush, and let your thorns my vintage wine inspire;  
make haste to me and taste the season of the latter flaming of my fire!  
the die is cast:  you will not last, nor i, if fate against our hearts conspire:  
be it resolved, love has evolved; your heart is mine, and i am yours, entire!  
   
© Copyright 2024 November 05  
by Clyve A. Bowen♫