Bougainvillea

To cut or not to cut...that is the question whether to allow thorns to again draw blood or to watch as a gentle hand is pierced Could that I seek a simpler answer as bougainvillea exposes passions from its different colors and brings such a glorious sense Alas, their beauty is a curse giving to my flesh the wounds of battle leaving scars upon outstretched arms My kingdom for a stem without thorns! What is a bougainvillea, is it a sweet blush of a flower? Is it a vine that intangles or a shrub that borrows space? Is it a way to see an ornament of nature bloom without fragrance or a false rose with little promise a flower with thorns or thorns with flowers? Yes is it nobler of the mind to live with bougainvillea which needs no care and can sustain itself or seek out roses which take more prudent care? Ah! This realm...this yearning...this heartland, needs both 3/17/19 contest Bougainvillea