Telling Eileen

Her hand was sweetly soft
marshmallow candy in mine

I dared not squeeze too tightly
(dappled brown braids)

Standing under the tamarisk tree
I squinted
and said
“My dad died”

“I know”

oh

everything sticky and messy
sweet marshmallow candy

bare feet on concrete
drive

soft and hard
soft and hard

her soft brown braids
my hard-plaited blond

the sun melting
everything away