A Sorority of Red

a sorority of red
smiling, shining faces,
loving attached
bright upturned
the youngest one
wanting to belong
dyes her hair
born brown in a surfeit of redheads
on the steps of sacre coeur
while the carousel organ plays
painted horses prance by
in their orbit
the dome as backdrop
a heart blessed
three sisters
crimson-headed two and the other brown

catholics tumble by
like prairie grass
resting
there
for immediate
gratification
the children tugged along
never to be broken
and dancing later
hard wooden floors
the flat
95’s hit song

flame-haired all