Cajun Girl

One cat was killing another

Under some arched persimmons.

You walked along the canal

Like you’d dropped something.

Impressed with the herons landing in the water,

You glanced around like you wanted to share it with someone

So I followed as you walked all the way down to the docks

Where the men’s ashen faces are lined with green.

A big boat made cold waves cross the rocks

And the thought of it tired me greatly. 

Then a police man walked right through me

And you swiveled around and said, “Ha!”

(So god damned beautiful a bend

In her bayou that hides

The tracks of the water bugs

And reticent teen boys

On her milky thighs and sink) 

You said it was a ghost. I said that was alright,

And put a finger inside you. It was quite exquisite—

Especially with the Navy nearby. We bought some wine,

But not enough, and climbed on a houseboat

With two perfect windows fettered by chains

And argued in a bed for two years.