A White Rosary for Thomas Lux.

The poem "A White Rosary" reflects on the speaker’s complex relationship with faith, family, and memory through the symbol of a white plastic rosary given as a gift for the recipient, Thomas Lux, in the event of the speaker’s death. It contrasts the speaker’s childhood experience with a quartz rosary and regular Mass attendance with their later renunciation of their father's religion due to personal fears and desires. The poem also evokes themes of remembrance, loss, and spiritual reflection, referencing shared memories and departed friends.