Tall Tale At The Rose Rodeo, You Bet! Southwestern Daydream With A Realistic Dollop At The End

I'm at the rose rodeo,

can't you tell?

on a horse made of ice cream,

wishing wells, the best

Western omelette of all times

while brandishing the Giant

Stuckey's lollipop-swirling sunset

oh, you bet!

with theme parks on the side.

I'm at the rose rodeo with the licorice rope trick

having packed the pink picnic splendidly
ahead of time

with its frosted cakes, lemonade

to spare while doing handstands, bareback

not spilling potato salad, pimento anywhere.

I'll wear a Derby hat at the rose rodeo

to make a splash

one with spirals and spirals of roses, gladiola,

wild violets that won't ever wilt beside
the Gingerbread houses shingled peppermints,

pink cherry orchards down to the rim

the whole cherry festival veiled, unveiled,

top that, no spots before my eyes.

I won't even blink (you will, I think)

so I'll win the staring contest, too!

amazing in the maze.

it won't come off my head 

when the horse throws me

mary angela douglas 6, 8 may 2014