Tommy is three and when he's bad <br />his mother dances with him. <br />She puts on the record, <br />'Red Roses for a Blue Lady' <br />and throws him across the room. <br />Mind you, <br />she never laid a hand on him. <br />He gets red roses in different places, <br />the head, that time he was as sleepy as a river, <br />the back, that time he was a broken scarecrow, <br />the arm like a diamond had bitten it, <br />the leg, twisted like a licorice stick, <br />all the dance they did together, <br />Blue Lady and Tommy. <br />You fell, she said, just remember you fell. <br />I fell, is all he told the doctors <br />in the big hospital. A nice lady came <br />and asked him questions but because <br />he didn't want to be sent away he said, I fell. <br />He never said anything else although he could talk fine. <br />He never told about the music <br />or how she'd sing and shout <br />holding him up and throwing him. <br /> <br />He pretends he is her ball. <br />He tries to fold up and bounce <br />but he squashes like fruit. <br />For he loves Blue Lady and the spots <br />of red roses he gives her<br /><br />Anne Sexton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/red-roses-18/
