Roses grow in the desert
offered little but scorched sand
yet an array of color brightens hope
where hope's deferred of man

For you see, through struggle they rend life
and though peril here, a few will stand
when consuming thorns devour refuse
roses mingle in chilled sand

Here where vigor threatens life
unfathomed by denying chance
these little buds, past last resort
our survivor's of pure circumstance

And your life beckons in frail times
with nothing much and little else
that roses do grow in the desert
for I have seen them there myself.

By Joy Hmura