JAMES MERRILL

"Alessio and the Zinnias"

____________________

“One summer—was he eight?—

They gave him the seed packet

Along with a 2’ by 4’

Slice of the estate.

To grow, to grow—grim law

Without appeal!

He, after all, kept growing every day. . .

Now this redundant chore.

Up sprouted green enough

For the whole canton, had one know to thin it.

Michaelmas found him eye to ey

With a gang of ruffians.

Not askable indoor,

Whose gaudy, wooden attitudes

(“Like pine cones in drag”)

There was scant question of endorsing

—Much as our droll friend, their legatee,

Would rap from them over the years. For instance

Think twice before causing

Just anything to be.

Then: Hold your head high in the stinking

Throngs of kind,

Joyously assimilate the Sun,

Never wear orange or pink.”