DREAMED OF HER 1962

A BOY DREAMS OF A GIRL IN HIS BED ONE NIGHT IN 1962

Naaman read
until he was too tired
to read another word.

His brother slept
as one dead,
snores alone
gave lie to that.

He turned out the light,
welcomed dull night,
snuggled own,
covered over his head,
eyes closed,
began to doze.

Shoshana was there
(imagined so),
he could smell
the scent of her
(borrowed maybe),
the thought of her
there beside him,
shy, silent,
cuddled up close,
arms about his waist,
hands joined about
his stomach,
soft, small,
fingered-linked.

He imagined her breath
on his neck,
his back, then her chin
rested on his shoulder.

Warmed him,
yet unsettled him,
what if and what then?

He looked over
his shoulder,
just a pillow rested,
not Shoshana,
not her chin,
not her arms about him,
not hands joined
about his stomach.

He closed his eyes again,
pretended she was,
there, warmed to him,
hugging near,
fingers touching him,
and he kissing(imaginary)
each finger in turn,
each small parcel of skin,
knowing nothing
or next to nothing
of the way of sex or such,
didn't do (sadly) very much.