The summer I stopped praying
  I took brisk showers in porcelain basins
to become the boy Monkey Shoe
swimming stripped naked at winter solstice.

  The Noxubee River runs laurel snake
  X-rated through this cigar box town
able tomb robber against damnation
  slowly slipping reflections

of black tree silhouettes in green Adam’s Ale
past peroxide blonde Hollywood sunbathers
  bikini and sunglass third-generation
suffragettes likewise hound dog two-timers
who never vote.

It was a distinct summer July 4 fireworks
  exploding at once earthbound
  rat-a-tat riot sparks festooning colored flame
  sans sweating spangled banner

Children run like sirens wailing
picnic gathered in gunpowder smoke
  “Hush now! Let’s Go!” 
  traffic jam home melting sno-cones.  

Hidden summer I began smoking
and loitering in yokel bars avoiding bull-dog
Drill Sergeants counting push-ups
 “One and two and no, do over. 
  One and two and no.”

Downtown girls danced by dimestore windows
  wearing halter top Jean Harlowe dresses
  mooching cigarettes on the sidewalk
  beneath a Bijou marquee

Play kissing with frosted lipstick
drinking gin tonics in aluminum tumblers
Chryslers passing out singing lullabies
  at terrace tables beneath lemon umbrellas
awakening before dawn fragile icicle tulips
broken off to stumble home.

Monkey Shoe! Are you the boy
who swims stark naked at winter’s height?  
Monkey Shoe!
Are you the boy who can rescue me?
                                Or are you a little liar?