My Dad Baptized Me

My Dad
baptized
me
The two
of
us
in
starched
white
cotton
tee shirts
and
boxers
white
pants
and
white
perma-iron
short-sleeved
shirts
It
was
one
of the
quietest
moments
I
remember
My
Father
took
my
hand
and
we
walked
Bare-
foot
up
cold
linoleum
steps
until
we
reached
the
alter
and
my
Father
placed
a
white
handkerchief
over
my
mouth.
"In
the
name
of
the Father,
the
Son,
and
the
Holy
Spirit."
And
the
weight
of
water
rushed
over
me
and
the
weight
of
light
rushed
over
me
and
that
is
all
I
need
to
know
As my
Father
brought me to the surface
and
water
rushed
from
my eyes
and my Father
held
me.

summer 08'

Prince
sings
summer
in the background
coming
in from
sunbathing
drifting
off
to sleep
as clouds
strike
shadows through
your eye lids
and
you
sweat
from
tropic
humidity
the
air
conditioner
catches
your
heat
and
you
smile
pour
a
glass
of
lemonade
and
dance
around.

How is my summer?

Prairie II

Cooling
Summer
Thunderstorm
as
pavement
breathes
rain
and
the
earth
rises
to
drink.

Prairie

This place
called
home
will
always beckon
me.
That
is
for
certain.
An
open
road,
windows down,
hand
catching
breeze.
The
openess
of
it
all
is
what
always
strikes me first.
Sea
of
green
and
sky.
And
then
picking
up
as
if we had
just seen one another.
Games
of Rummy Royal.
Words
to humble
one
another.
And hearts
that had been
so
full of
one
another
before
we
made our presence,
that,
when we do,
they
spill
over.
Dad,
you
now
regail us in
your past.
Words
that strike
as bittersweet.
Why had
we not heard
of your trips
around
the country
before?
Glad to hear
them now
but are you
preparing?
And,
Mom,
my
champion.
Protector
as always
you now
jump in
to take care
of Dad's
lost
vibrance.
Just
a
light
that
when you
are told
you've become
bossy
you
shy away knowing
it
to
be
true
and then
after
comtemplation,
find
your
spirit
that
had been
placed in
the background.
And
sisters
Who
are so
different
from
me
or one
another
But,
in
the
oddity
of
one
another
we
shake
with
laughter.
And
our
tanned
bodies
leave
one another
again.
Our
thoughts
left
smiling.
And
the
road
takes me
to
the horizon.
And the
earth
rises
in
my nose,
the green
sea
rolls,
and
I
am
home.