Not red
for love.
Nor red
above

pillow
chatter,
private
matter.

Manure
fed, glow
and smell:
yellow.

Friendship's
own rose,
thorn stake
that knows

when true
feeling
is sent
reeling

we crave
safety,
the room
to be

ourselves.
And so,
friend, it's
yellow

and blooms
because
that's what
it does

Peter Fallon's poetry collections include Strong, My Love and The Company of Horses (both Gallery Press ).