He didn’t look at me when he asked
Have you ever seen a Costa Rican rose?
Smoke swirled in blue wafts about his head.
Cut by curt gesture and sharp regret
The reds are deep like rubies by firelight.
The greens are wishful and bright.
Thorns to break a mans heart and poison his mind.

It sparked a journey, a three hour flight and a four hour drive.
It was naught but a painted ****.