Before the World of Men and Boys, There Was the Land of Girls

Our fingertips drew glyphs

on one another’s backs:

             Spiraling Venus’ hand mirror,

my girlfriends and me, in the dark

at church camp, tracing the shield

             and spear of Mars.

One girl lay on the floor, the others

             gathered round chanting—

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

And with two fingers each placed beneath

her body, we levitated her higher and higher,

             offering our passages—

before we felt the weight of men, when our bodies

were made of air, when girl-flesh tickled

             without shame,

when we lifted our girlfriend up—all breast buds

and knobby-kneed, raising her toward

             the Divine.