Poem: White Rose in Winter

White Roses - Iretta Hunter

White Rose in Winter

Café courtyard.  Cold afternoon.  

Shivering.  Tepid tea. 

I did not know she watched me.

The pen in my hand dropped…

as I picked it up, 

her gaze pierced mine.  

Translucent porcelain white petals, 

blooming amidst barren stumps 

and thorns sleeping until

the wine of springtime.  

Who knew a confetti of detours 

and loss tossed by pandemic 

into the universe of upheaval

would bring us together.  


Me, waiting for grey clouds 

to rain a poem; a white rose 

holding onto an untimely gift 

of life not unlike mine,

a transient chance to begin again.


Georgette Howington
© 2022

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The Benicia First Tuesday Poets’ Group and members of Benicia Literary Arts have written ekphrastic poems about paintings from our show, Watercolor - A Happy Medium.

Ekphrastic poems are vivid verbal descriptions of a work of art. Fifteen different poets each came to the aRt Cottage to pick one pieces from each of the 15 artists in the show. We'll be sharing the poetry here on the blog over the next several days - enjoy!