Run Rosie Run
Writings
They kissed goodbye under their last roadside attraction
below the shadow of a paint-peeling dinosaur
its underbelly the only refuge from the middle of SUmmer desert heat
he would say later that the sun-scorched her heart
that all that dust in her lungs
made her run
Rosie bought a tiny souvenir
a memory to fit in the palm of her hand
not that she’d need a reminder
of the boy with “home” in his eyes
She’d packed her bag that night before
while he’d dreamt beside her
one more week together and she’d have wound up dressed in white
she’d say later that this was her one great regret
but the road was her only true love forever
Rosie left a threadbare tee-shirt in his backseat
the one of their favorite band
she thought it a memory he could feel on his skin
maybe wear it to their next show
that he’ll take someone else to
I’ll love you regardless
I’ll love you well beyond now
I’ll love you when the night comes to take me
I’ll love you when I leave the next one behind
She recites it over and over again
like a song
as the dinosaurs disappear in the rear-view
Run Rosie run
Art by Ana Bagayan
