Poem for Mama

In October of 1969, I realized I had overlooked my mother's birthday. Brother Sam and I were living in Kansas City, she in Texas. I hurriedly dashed off a poem, modeled from the lyric style of Van Dyke Parks in his fine album, Song Cycle. Sam illustrated it and made a book of it. I may or may not possess the book, but I recall the words.

rose garden

in it roses

pink yellow and red

roses for mama

cut from their soft bed

i thought upon her april birthday

i would send to her a flower bouquet

july -

july -

three full months went by -

mom its me

fretfully

staid the full days go by

ill be there to see you by and by