Janet Underneath the Roses
by Ricky Ian Gordon

When Amy’s sister died,
they put yellow roses
on her coffin,
yellow roses, and baby’s breath,
to see her off in-
adorn her death.
And all the mourner’s cried,
when Amy’s sister died.
When Amy’s sister died
there came naked angels
through her doorway.
Naked angels beheld her room
to bathe her fingers
and help her bloom.
And God’s arms opened wide
when Amy’s sister died.
The Rabbi read
from letters she had written.
Lovely lines of languished life.
Despite the ways
that she was smitten-
she had made
some peace
with strife.
Lying in her sweet repose
Janet, underneath the roses.
Yellow, for the light she’ll make,
Baby’s breath, the breath she’ll take
as she quick ascends the sky
watching Amy watch her fly-
(no one ever really dies.)
Look, a glittering above-
Amy’s sister, Amy’s love.
Amy’s white
beloved dove.