poem for mama

In October of 1969, I realized I had overlooked my mother's birthday. Brother Sam and I were living in Kansas City, she in Texas. I hurriedly dashed off a poem, modeled from the lyric style of Van Dyke Parks in his fine album, Song Cycle. Sam illustrated it and made a book of it. I may or may not possess the book, but I recall the words.

rose garden
in it roses
pink yellow and red
roses for mama
cut from their soft bed

i thought upon her april birthday
i would send to her a flower bouquet

july -
july -
three full months went by -

mom its me
fretfully
staid the full days go by
ill be there to see you by and by