It's late - the crickets and salsa bugs fill the night with a rhythm
that pulls at my aura, loosens my molecules
and reminds me.
I remember, what, fifty years ago now?
Wow.
Fifty years ago.
Girl Scout camp - past lights out - bed check over.
One flashlight shines, and the girls who want to play
parade naked in the spotlight, one at a time,
to the accompaniment of muffled giggles.
I'm pretending to be asleep,
too embarrassed to show my unformed-as-yet body.
Years later I'll be the skinny-dipping queen,
the naked dancer under the full moon...
But this night, age eleven,
I've got my whole self shut down tight -
eyes clamped shut, I'm curled in fetal position under covers,
hardly daring to breathe,
afraid of this next part of life.
Then the counselor's footsteps -
everyone diving under their covers, flashlight clicked off -
and it's over.
I can breathe.
Oh, all these fifty years later,
I see I've survived,
and I've learned a few things -
like how totally cool it is sometimes
to be naked.
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Comments: 14
the crickets and the salsa bugs drew me in...
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing
What was she going to do, fire me? Take away my paycheck? She got over it and then I became the one every little girl wanted to be with....night fell and the racoons came...what a hoot. Several days later some of the mamas called me and told me they wanted me to be their childs leader when they had their next camp out. All the girls said they had such a good time on our 'walk.' Thanks for sharing.
This rates, in my book, as first class poetry. I shall add it to my collection. And if I remember, show it to my grandchildren, at least the girls, to see if they can relate.
thanks.
Cheers
Jim
And Poddar, thank you.
Jeni - that's a whole article in a comment (I think we all do that here on Gather - I know I do) - and it's just wonderful. I hope you develop it and publish it so everyone can see it. You GO!