For Ms. A.L. Robertson

by Joe Gardner

It was the only other song I knew
All the words to
Mom would get so mad
When I would sing it to you
You weren’t but a couple months
Three at best
If I had to guess
I was maybe 16
Running close to 17
And so proud to be holding you
And singing to you
“Purple haze all thru my brain”
“Lately things just don’t seem the same”
It was really horrible
The sound of two cats fighting over a dead dogs bones in a trash can

The other song
I knew
Was
Bah bah black sheep
That one I would sing to you
While you were asleep
In the comfort of a baby’s dream