CONEY ISLAND 1935

A WOMAN AND HER MEMORIES IN 1935 ON CONEY ISLAND.

And Bud said there’s a
Female cop on the
Beach, some old dame; looks

Like my Aunt Alice
Except she’s dead; but
You didn’t look round,

You just looked at Bud
With his camera;
His hand in the air

Waving at you to
Get your attention,
His shock of black hair,

Poking over the
Top and you thought of
The time your father

Took you for your first
Photo, all bright and
Smart in your new dress,

Your hair done so so
By your mother, her
Fingers pulling it

This way and that, the
Hairbrush, the one she’d
Spanked you with one time,

Dragging now through the
Tangles, her thin tongue
Sticking out of the

Side of her mouth in
Deep concentration;
Pay attention now,

Doris, can’t waste the
Man’s time, need to get
Your face just right, your

Hair trim and neat and
The new dress; don’t let
The legs show too much,

You know what these guys
Are like: a sight of
Leg and they’re like dogs

Smelling a b***h on
Heat, Mother said. Watch
The birdie, Bud called.

Hey, Doris, are you
Here with me or are
You in some other

Place in that mind of
Yours. And your Father
Sat you down in front

Of the camera
That day, plonked you down
In the chair, his hands

Forcing your shoulders,
And all you could think
Of beyond the fat

Camera guy was
The high window and
That bright blue of sky.