Velorio

You laughing Lucy

and she calls us in

your mother

Rachel me you I remember

and the living room dark

for our eyes to get used to

That was the summer Lucy remember

we played on the back

porch where rats hid under

And bad boys passed to look

and look at us and we look back

Lucy think how it was

Rachel me you

we fresh from sun and dirty

the living room pink

The paint chipped blue beneath

so bright for our eyes

to get used to and in rows and rows

The kitchen chairs facing front

where in a corner is a satin box

with a baby in it

Who is your sister Lucy

your mama not crying

saying stay pray to Jesus

That baby in a box like a valentine

and I thinking it is wrong

us in our raw red ankles

And mosquito legs

Rachel wanting to go back out again

you sticking one dirty finger in

Said cold cold the living

room pink Lucy and your hair

smelling sharp like corn