SEEMING ONE 1960

We had sat
on the grass
by Banks House
warm morning
Fay's dress was
a faded blue
her fair hair
almost blonde
was let loose
Daddy said
we must pray
for the souls
in the place
Purgatory
Fay told me
where's that place?
I asked her
Daddy said
a place or
state of great
soul suffering
inhabited
by the souls
of sinners who
atone for
their own sins
before they go
to heaven
Fay explained
I unscrewed
a bottle of
lemonade
and passed it

over for
Fay to drink
she took sips
then gave it
back to me
I swigged some
then put it
beside me
on the grass
what a place
to avoid
if you can
I tell her
Daddy said
our prayers help
them get out
I take out
from my jean's
pocket a
paper bag
of wine gums
I offer
her the bag
she took one
and then she
sedately
put it in
between lips
to her mouth
I watched her
my 12 year
old girlfriend
doing that
it had a
beauty to

the action
her fingers
in motion
opening
of her lips
her blue eyes
I mouthed 2
red wine gums
and sucked them
all the time
watching her
not thinking
of the place
Purgatory
or the souls
but her there
her beauty
as we sat
on the grass
warmed up by
morning sun
both of us
seeming one.