Lea Galanter

After the rain it all looked different
the glamorous stories
wrapped in stale smoke
no longer hid the lone wolf

Raspberry lemonade, speedos
and a red-and-black bikini
were all I had left of my last dollar

Heavy breathing,
feral breath
the adrenaline surge
of my wilder self
told me I was no Boy Scout

Nature called with memories
of Satan’s sordid tales
that made piercing screams
of Sunday’s sermon

Moaning and crying
Jesus waited for enlightenment
while the building shook
with empty laughter

 

[From “Liar’s Game” by Gail Kretchmer]