A RosaryAuthor(s): George BarlowSource: The Iowa Review, Vol. 16, No. 1, The Writers' Workshop: A Fiftieth AnniversaryCelebration (Winter, 1986), p. 48Published by: University of IowaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20156264 .

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A Rosary. George Barlow

for Little Ray

his vatos?poised four at a time

at each end of his coffin ?

would bring him back if they could

would cruise the barrio again on big-ben afternoons

with him again would

pop their fingers whistle up their soul

on zoot nights would

sing tiara over rivera walls

taste the rouge & nuzzle cholita feathers

would seize their mirrors combs dreams

tease & box would

puff up their magic & wish these flowers away

would not hurt so bad

would change that night would take it easy if they could would stand now

unbandaged uncrushed manly before the stunned calm

de la familia would not hear the mass

the creaking pews the guitar & lost boy vibrato in the song for him

would not be fourteen

tearfully born into this death would bring him bring him bring him

glory be to the father back if they could

48

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.110 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 21:38:43 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions