Bring Me Flowers

Written for Ada Naomi Nerren

Mama lies in her hospital bed

blasts of immature white cells

crowding out her blood stream

Admonishing my uncle

Bring me flowers

while I’m living, Joe.

Obediently he brings

a long, prickled stem

red rose to Viola

Large and showy

fragrance dancing about

the stark, white room.

Mama’s gone.

Uncle Joe’s gone.

I sit in my motorized chair

Echoing her words

Please, bring me flowers

while I’m living.