BELIEVED

The glowing lionhead of Jesus emerged nightly
from the wall of clash pink and red and blue flowers.
I was not afraid. Nightly I welcomed the glow
to the left of the window where a fireman would know
I slept. In case of fire,
my dad posted a sticker of a 1930’s bob-girl
rescued by a red fire Man. I had nothing to fear

until I slept on another bed near another window
on the night when sullen snakes eyes emerged from the brick slant
(also flowered papered) near my pillow.

I don’t remember shaking

not even on the steep steps that crumbled
down to our flooded basement.

If I gazed down
into the gray world of restless dead
I'd dive into the dark canal and swim.

(h.l.)