Bougainvillea

BOUGAINVILLEA CITY The city that enjoyed the floral name Is now a transformed spectre of its past A semi-graced decline has changed its mien Like comely lady reaching certain age But still today the Bougainvillea blooms 'Bougainvillea City' blossoms would abound In graceful streets of affluence and pride Bank halls baroque attested wealth enjoyed But last days of boom brought vanity and fall Yet still today the Bougainvillea blooms Venal rulers chose antiquity disdain Deflowered many an elegant urban scene Tasteless vulgar outcrops broke the symmetry Yet there remains a fading lustre at its heart And still today the Bougainvillea blooms With graceful flaming blossoms that conceal Sharp prickles that will pierce unwary skin To match the scarlet petals that abound On streets and gardens riverside and verge Yes still today the Bougainvillea blooms