10-Mermaid

The sun

–a golden embrace

At Coney Island–

Reminded me of my father

–dead, memories of days

When there was some room for enjoyment

In his early alzheimer’s mind—

Intermittent, sour and sweet flashes

Interrupted, overtaken by

Bodies!!

            –half naked, skinny

              or fat

              blue bodies

              pink bodies

              orange bodies

Of humans wanting to be fish

            –wanna-be sirens and tritons

Exposing chests and bulges

            –buttocks, too

Wearing tight bodysuits over their groins

In the back, before marching

I discovered by chance

The king and queen of the parade waiting

sitting on their throne

He was small, thin, delicate

–a famous musician, I learned- and I could have talked to him but hesitated

And then it was impossible to get closer

the body guards showed up

We marched on, noisy and giggly

A lively mature woman

Covered her nipples with

A small star

And marched

–for the record and her grandchildren–

in panties (blue lace)

Two young women

–green hair, pink feathers—

Were sirens with fish bowls

Attached to their breasts

A red-painted man posed as

Elvis with horns

While Vikings in golden hues

–and more horns—

Brought their battalions

Displaying peaceful walking feasts

And a horrendous army car full

Of dead-people impersonators

Passed by

Reminding us of distant

Piercing wars

Then there were my friends

We marched for Pedro

We chanted his poems as we walked

Happy under the melting sky

While the onlookers shouted greetings

–most looked bewildered—

And a parading woman said—

Maybe they are all wondering

‘Why are they marching there,

In black outfits in this heat?’

Maybe they are thinking:

‘What are they doing?

These fucking crazy people,

They always have to do things their

Way!’

But then

So many comforting crazy people around

Made me feel happy

                        bouncing

After the parade

The long walk back to Nathan’s

[hot dogs since 1931, painted in antique

letters]

I took a break from

My organic, all fruit and vegetable diet

Had a bad lemonade (16 oz.)

Mean fries

Then looked at the bodies

And bathed in the sun

Joe began telling about the early days of the parade

To a group of women that were getting

A bit too enthusiastic with him

–But his cousin reminded him about his wife–

Carmen and I commented

On the huge abandoned hotel

And wondered about the Wax Museum

On our way back

A friend and I mounted

The horses in the carrousel

The speed the music the memories of childhood

My parents embracing

Watching my sister and I going around and around

And around, just like this

Except

That now I feel my thighs

Spread by the smooth, firm

back of the horse

and wish it was real 

wish I could feel his flesh, his skin

Going up and up

And up

The train ride home

made me sleepy and

                        mellow

We’ll be back! We said to each other

Knowing years may pass by

It is a long road to Coney Island

It goes back to when humans, sirens and other creatures

Roamed the Earth and its waters

Wearing their bodies raw

Exuberant      and

Free!

Pedro would be thrilled.