XXV—AFTER SEVERAL HIGHBALLS

I saw three roses on the wall, Three red, red roses on the wall, Repeated in a pattern: The first, I Cleopatra call, The second one's named Sadie Hall, The third one is a slattern. Three flowers, all curlycues and swirls, Each blare-mouthed like a trumpet; One used to fish for swine with pearls, The second was the best of girls, The third one was a strumpet. Three red-mouthed roses on the wall As bright and hot as blood; The first one caused an empire fall, The second was just Sadie Hall, The third died in the mud.