For A Rocker

You returned again last night.

A dark Mercedes Benz panel truck

Stopped in front of my mother's walk.

You stepped casually to the door.

When I let you in, you showed me

Your gun and let loose three

Animals: a mouse, a cat the size of

A mouse, and a larger animal,

Perhaps a full-size cat.

All through your visit I worried

That my mother would find the mouse

And you when she came home.

For A Rocker

After a short visit, your ex-wife

Arrived.  She seemed pleased to see you.

When you left together I was disappointed

That you did not take the three animals

And somewhat surprised that Barbel

Was not afraid of you, like I was.

For A Rocker

Did you say you were doing well,

Just down the road?

Did we talk of Oxford ,

The wooden toilet seats in the Bodlian,

Shelley's guitar, and Logic Lane ?

Oh Ray, Henry James would

Have smiled had he seen you.

For A Rocker

The bright sun impassioned the short grass;

It hissed in the afternoon's light drizzle.

Scholars walked High Street in long robes

Carrying Champagne bottles and long stem glasses.

And you with your long red hair,

Your German wife, and your newborn son

Sat beneath my dorm.  She breast-feeding Ralph,

And you watching them stop,

Pour their wine, and drink to something

You would never know.

For A Rocker

My friend, I could not remember

This so well today had we not talked

Of it last night.  My mother returned

Shortly after you left.  I don't know

If I told her about the three animals.

May 24, 1985