def METHOD_NAME(self, pattern):
    """
    Parse the given fontconfig *pattern* and return a dictionary
    of key/value pairs useful for initializing a
    :class:`font_manager.FontProperties` object.
    """
    props = self._properties = {}
    try:
        self._parser.parseString(pattern)
    except self.ParseException as e:
        raise ValueError(
            "Could not parse font string: '%s'\n%s" % (pattern, e))
    self._properties = None
    self._parser.resetCache()
    return props