when the red rose grows greedy,
her silky teacup body bloats

as she drinks life’s dew
she bleeds out her own

until finally she severs her support,
a snapped stem like an Achilles torn

she believed she was invincible,
her weak spot concealed beneath thorns

parading her petals like plumage,
a dazzling display basking in sun

now she forms an isosceles with the dirt
to be consumed by the Earth once more