Exploding Rose

Exploding Rose

He held the hose tightly and aimed it at the dirt surrounding the thorny bush. The water flooded into cracks of dried earth, between mounds of brown clay, past sandy patches and squeezed by weeds that were trying to sprout. The sun glistened on splatters and sprinkles and mist and he focused on the rainbow that fell over the rose bush, past the deep, dark green leaves and spilled onto the water faucet where the hose attachment had not been tightened all the way and spray spewed across the lawn. One rose at the top of the bush shuttered and twisted off of its stem. It flew across the porch, drifted momentarily over a glass of iced tea, surged back into the sun and exploded in rays of red.
He squeezed the trigger handle of the hose and shut off the water. Then he ran to the faucet and turned off the flow. Glancing back to the center of the yard he saw the exploded rose rising in a tower of pink and red and orange petals and whirl upward. Then it was gone.
He didn’t slam the screen door when he went back inside. He didn’t want anyone to see him. Though he wasn’t quite sure why, and he knew he had done nothing intentional, he felt a crazy guilt about what had just happened. He sat down at the kitchen table where the rest of the family was chatting, snacking, talking on phones, and ignoring him. Yet somehow he had a feeling of panic that they may have been looking out of the window and witnessed what happened. Yet, what had really happened? Nothing. Just watering the lawn. Innocent as can be. Then why did he feel so guilty?

acrylic paint on plywood 24”x24”

Exploding Rose belongs to the following groups:

Abstract Art, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, AW Welcome Center, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, Fine Arts, The Healing Journey and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints