NAAMAN'S THOUGHTS 1962

A BOY THINKS OF A GIRL HE LOVES WHILE EATING HIS DINNER IN 1962

Naaman sits
at the dining table
and waits for prayers
to be said before

the meals begins
he muses on Shoshana
on the bus
how he sat next to her

and how she
promised a kiss
the following day
and he tries to imagine it

pressing his lips together
running his tongue over them
soft glide side to side
puts one of his hands

over the other
pretending it is
hers on his
Naaman

his father says
are you ready
for prayers?
yes sorry

he says
looking at the table
not his hands
releasing her

imaginary hand
from his
and forms hands
for prayer mode

his father says the prayers
and all say amen
and mother says
take and eat

and they do
but Naaman imagines
Shoshana sits
beside him

and wonders what
she would eat
if she were there
and what would

his parents say
if she spoke
of the kiss
or how he sat

next to her
and their thighs touched
and he felt a flush
of hotness

go through him
and their hands held
warmly
softly

o how I am in love
he thinks
and begins to eat
and passes salt to one

and pepper to another
all the time
thinking of Shoshana
but smiling at his mother.