Little Sword

See my sword, my gladiolus,
Sharp as a bee-sting; crisp as frost,
Boss among the fading flora,
Fighting winter, holding sway.

See its blade; my gladiolus,
Bright as sunshine, free of rust,
Trusting in the sap still rising,
Prizing every autumn day.

poem © Celia Warren 2011

gladiolus, a diminutive of gladius, Latin for sword