Compass Rose

My compass rose

Covered in thorns

Roots grip stranded

In Earth forlorn

Every point, a petal

With no direction found

They scatter aimlessly

Descending to the ground

The wind whistles

And awakens such petals

Due North

Due South

Due West do they hurry

Dew of morning sun

To falter free or root ground bury

With no roots

Bloom no petals more

For the petaled life

Roots give their lives for

Thorns protect

Keep out dark and insect

But when petals neglect

Rose inner fibers defect

Roots seek life water

To restore and nourish

But when decay inside

True beauty cannot flourish

For the dearest petals

Cage protected by thorns

So when petals leave

How the flower home mourns

For the roots understand

The petals one day fly free

They raise to the sky

Out of love, defy gravity

The thorns too do they

Guide the rose to the sky

And uphold guard watch

To honor glorify

One by one

Do the petals bloom

Blessed precious rubies

Symbol life, love, and tomb

My compass rose

Covered in thorns

Covering the petals

Nature gift me adorn

To determine due next

I retreat into roots

In remembering past

Forge future pursuits

In knowing such present

Will clear fog in past

And cartograph my map

With destined future path

Due North

Due South

Due now

Due next

For in understanding myself

Can I simplify complex

Thorns retreat

Yet still pre-sent

Only uncovering the petals

Reveal beauty meant

How can other flowers bloom

And grow and inspire

If they’re caged and unseen

And to ground retire

With the only direction

Being Earth to Sky

Petals transpire free

In this garden thrive

Compass rose

No North Star known

But should I seek North

She shall guide me so

I don’t have

An end destination in sight

But compass rose, she’ll guide me

In sun day and moon night