Papery Roses

Papery Roses*

*Sing to the tune of the song “Paper Roses,” first sung by Anita Bryant.

Heat has always burned our garden roses.

Summer blooms may last only one day.

From yellow buds through pink and then just crispy,

Those scented blossoms quickly fade away.

Papery roses, papery roses

Are all that heatwaves leave to me.

After baking, after toasting--

Fresh blooms a distant memory.

Now climate change is messing with our roses.

More blasted flowers giving me the blues.

Unless the world can change its nasty habits,

We won't have real roses we can use.

Paper roses, plastic roses--

Oh how real those roses seem to be

But they're only imitations,

All fake and sadly fragrance-free.