From a portion temporarily called 'Ruby'
Don't let Ruby fall into the reds and browns
so it goes
don't let her fall down
tell her to expect flowers this July
and a nice brunch
Ruby oh the farm,
ruby kept the kids sneezing,
red and sweaty and itchy in the sun.
Ring the bell! Race to ring the bell!
Hold out through the winter.
There's no cattle left
no calves to suck
but Augie's hats are still
collected by the washer
and it's still a big house, Ruby.
Remember them together when you're down.
There was a month or two of kids
one summer
and they fought with wood and pool cues
built a fort of the yard,
made it a maze to solve,
and ran water when they shouldn't
they played games that shouldn't
be called games,
but they slept above you safely.
Enjoy your afternoon tea now, Ruby,
and wait for flowers in July.
© 2008, Jared Linzmeier
