South Pasadena It’s always the same. Well, more or less. I always – Almost always – Envy the healthy older men – Clear retirees – So secure, And the smooth-haired younger Women exiting their Well-washed Volvos etc Whenever I make my brief sojourn from The parking lot to the ATM In the nearby rich neighborhood That Mom and I always – Almost always – Admired through the bus window when I Was a kid. I will almost always Think of her When I hear Prince on the radio Because she texted me last year “Did you know Prince died? Only 57, how sad.” And then she died the next month. On the radio I’ll hear the song about his wary Admiration of a loose woman or the one where He just wants to party his sadness away And I’ll think of how surprising and sweet it was that Mom cared about his death – she of the Beatles And Vivaldi. ...