These are dark December days.
Not just the usual December darkness –
but a darkness made several shades deeper
by the shadow of Coronavirus
that cloaks all of our lives.

Grim times.

A splash of yellow
catches my eye
at the kitchen window
causing me to look again.
There, in the driveway,
reaching away up high
is a single yellow rose.
which sways gently
in an icy wind.

I’m surprised.
We had forgotten
all about this rose
which had spent all year
hidden
behind a honeysuckle.
December winds stripped the honeysuckle
of its leaves
so that it now stands bare
revealing this single yellow rose
standing tall and triumphant
in the depths of winter!

Thank you, Lord,
for our beautiful, yellow rose,
our swaying, golden beacon.
A welcome message of hope
from my wonderful God of Surprises
to reassure
and to brighten
dark December days.

© Claire Murray, 28th December 2020