Black roses blooming in my soul
My heart surrounded by shadow
And in my dreams

I walk stagnant streams
or sink into sea weed sodden seas
Once

my silver silo contained golden grain
Nothing's there but empty shadows now
If I could steal this grief

and toss it to the wind
for a moment it would blow away
and then return again

I can only pray
that from the darkness I've received
a better thing will be conceived

So I harvest black roses in the night
hoping their dark petals will transform soon
to petals of light.

c. Douglas Fireman