Royal Blue/On Shaper Wheels Poem by Mark Money

royal blue-
one of color standards next to you.
one which i do not hesitate to possess
or squeeze the life out of at a moment's notice.
royal blue
the mockingbird's tone is one of rue
and regrets for loves past and the flask is empty.
on shaper wheels i spin around you
passing you in sales and on curves one and two.
who knows like i do on shaper wheels?
royal blue
a marionette sings do dance do dance do
and thoughts of you come true
in royal blue.
on shaper wheels i roll my life away
new orleans and the bronx are patterns for
a new straitjacket i've designed
while i spin in lines on shaper wheels.
and when my race is run and finally through
they'll dress me to the death in royal blue.

© 1977 (Tulsa, OK)