LARRY HIRSHBERG

 

Rosie's Pattern

Death imitates art.
Snow can imitate sleep.
There were my footprints
in a dream portrait,
headstones up in the trees.

Rosie's pattern all around
Rosie's pattern is what I found
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie
Rosie's pattern.

Nightfall, a father as a child
Teacup in his mama's hand.
Clouds sleeping in the kitchen window,
later, upstairs,
his blanket imitates land.

Rosie's pattern all around
Rosie's pattern is what he found
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie
Rosie's pattern.

When there's death in the house
Rosie's pattern lets it out.

Rosie's pattern on the ground
Rosie's pattern that's what I found
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie
Rosie's pattern.