Little one, as I rock you to sleep,
you do not yet know your world.
Your room is blue, not green—
no telephone, red balloon,
or picture of a cow jumping over the moon,
no kittens or mittens, no bears, young mouse.
You have a comb and a brush, a clock, a doll house
and your Grandmother rocking you, hush.
You do not know of Margaret.
I will tell you now and I will tell you later.
You will not understand me now.
Will you understand me later?
Goodnight Brownie:
Beautiful, green-eyed, blonde-haired vixen,
extravagant, eccentric lover of King Juan Carlos,
a John D. Rockefeller nephew,
Ms. Michael Strange, ex-wife of John Barrymore,
others.
Little one, do not kick your leg up in the air
if your doctors tell you no,
clotting your leg and stopping your heart.
Do not give your inheritance to a wastrel.
Instead write 100 picture books
with melodies you can whistle.
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises
Goodnight foolish choices
Everywhere.
Originally published in Rat's Ass Review