-For Olive Goffe in paradise-

Serenade:

Olive,––

your grey sweater frays

at the hemline of a common twill.

Olive,––

I am a poor boy, too. (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)

but not so poor as you.

Olive,––quieter than a leaf.
smarter than the blackboard.

Olive,––
did you smile my way when all the while

you knew I was not looking?

shame on me for being the fool who

didn't know any better.

Coda:

Olive,

I leave this missive for you, and when I die,

will you pant for my bones?  (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)

Fall River Public Schools

"pant for (my) bones" paraphrasing  "for Marylin M" / Charles Bukowski