Bright Red Comb

2001 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
(FOR DOMINIQUE)

WHAT IF I'D NEVER WATCHED YOU LAUGH
IF ALL I HAD OF YOU WAS IN A PHOTOGRAPH
THAT IMAGE WOULD SOMEDAY GROW FALLOW
IT'S JUST A SHADOW WITHOUT BONES OR MARROW
AS A GENTLE SWEET TEEN YOU WOULD CAREFULLY PREEN
YOUR DRESS AND EACH TRESS PRISTINE AND CLEAN
STOCKINGS FALLING TO YOUR ANKLES
CHECKING EVERY ANGLE AND FIXING EVERY TANGLE
YET I'M JUST MAKING UP ALL THESE DETAILS
I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT INFANT WAIL
AND WASN'T THERE TO WATCH YOU GROW
SO HOW ON EARTH AM I TO KNOW

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MAY HAVE CONSPIRED
BUT SOMETIMES AT NIGHT I FEEL INSPIRED
THERE I CAN IMAGINE YOU AS A YOUND CHILD
ON A COLD KITCHEN FLOOR LINOLEUM-TILED
YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR AUNTIES PREPARING A MEAL
STEAM AND AROMAS ARE VIVID AND REAL
SPEAKING IN A LANGUAGE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
SPINNING STORIES FROM THEIR HOMELAND
YOUR LEGS OUTSTRETCHED AND A DOLL IN YOUR ARMS
IN BIB OVERALLS AND A NECKLACE WITH A CHARM
IN THE OVEN A LOAF OF RISING BREAD
AS SOMEONE WALKS BY AND CARESSES YOUR HEAD

BUT YOU KNOW IT'S JUST SOMETHING I IMAGINED
I ASSIGNED YOU A ROLE LIKE AN ACTOR IN A PAGEANT
I'VE NEVER KNOWN YOUR GIRLISH DREAMS
YOUR SUMMERS, STRAWBERRIES AND WHIPPED CREAM
IT'S TRULY FOREIGN AND IMPOSSIBLE TO FATHOM
THEY COME TO MY MIND AND PASS QUICKLY IN TANDEM