For the King and Queen of Summer

The land of flowers is dusty
and covered with jewels.
Alan writes that Ceylon
is heavy with topaz and rubies
and the stink of rotting lotus.

He will return
with opals and moonstones
around his neck
and a crippled monkey named Buddha
in his back pocket.

When he comes home
the Red Queen
will cook rice-cream and pray
for a second coming
as she fiercely shields the children
until their bones grow stronger.

She teaches them royal forebearance
while the crippled monkey
quite at home
picks his nose
as he makes a shithouse
under their throne.