For Rose




In my fresh unpressed petal dress thin and petal-

printed hem to shoulder, I saw you see me and

see double: your gran? your nan? your neighbour?

Summer under the oak is my cloak but my coat –

buckles missing grime-blackened – is more me

the one I take to the Parade, sitting yellowed

at all of my ends, my fingers, my friends   I saw you

see triple: she under the tree, she street hunched, she

for sugar at your door, all these mes, these Roses

When I left you double took, purple river underfoot

out the back, why the parcel still   on my mat

I heard you, then, thru that bed of petals, call my sister

It was peaceful, she said they’d said, I’d tidied

I say I had a smoke, and then I saw the violet