Briar Scorned

Briar Scorned


The rambling rose
or briar rose
with its thorns
(it it said)
protected
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
for a century.

Knights tried
for a hundred years
to penetrate
the thick tangle
of thorns.

I prefer
the white petals
to the thorns,
delicate in scent
and delightful
on the tongue.