Anne Sexton - Red Roses lyrics

Tommy is three and when he's bad his mother dances with him. She puts on the record, 'Red Roses for a Blue Lady' and throws him across the room. Mind you, she never laid a hand on him. He gets red roses in different places, the head, that time he was as sleepy as a river, the back, that time he was a broken scarecrow, the arm like a diamond had bitten it, the leg, twisted like a licorice stick, all the dance they did together, Blue Lady and Tommy. You fell, she said, just remember you fell. I fell, is all he told the doctors in the big hospital. A nice lady came and asked him questions but because he didn't want to be sent away he said, I fell. He never said anything else although he could talk fine. He never told about the music or how she'd sing and shout holding him up and throwing him. He pretends he is her ball. He tries to fold up and bounce but he squashes like fruit. For he loves Blue Lady and the spots of red roses he gives her