THORNY ROSE
Now you have learnt to blush
with an unusual hush
when your half smile ,
under a light crush
of the upper jaw
puts me at a loss 
for awhile.
I am closer to your thorns
under the spell 
of your hot pink eyes
my heart, held
like crumpled foliage
inside your glossy palms
in a desire to sing,
so willingly it burns.
Now my soul
with sunlight fills,
sprays of rising love
from behind green leaves,
my body moves into the thorns
my spirit in you so coolly sojourns.
Copyright: saroj k. padhi