That summer, you burned,
White- hot fire. You seared
Childhood from my skin.
You made a man of me.
The afterimage
Of you never faded
From my vision.
I still see you when
I close my eyes.
You, silhouetted
Against the sticky
Sun melting on the
Horizon, heavy
With heat, enough to
Drive a man mad.
You could taste the sweat,
The dense fog of
Perspiration that
Smothered the city.
I stood on the bank
Of the river, Smelled
The salt where it met
The open sea and
Dipped my toes into
The cool water, felt
The smoothness of the
Rocks, rough stone sea-softened
Made gentle with time.
I waded out to
Meet you. Let the cool
Water caress my
Thighs.Watched the sunlight
Kiss your brow, the tip
Of your nose, your lips.
You were golden then.
My memory of
You is always warm,
Always sun drenched and
Sickly sweet.