Charlie Young...really young Charlie...only 19...
with great awareness... (a whole life before him)...
lay bare chested...bare assed...on a cold wooden floor
on a hot summer morning in a house...by the inlet...
near the sea...Charlie could fix everything:
Charlie stands up and stretches to the ceiling
Charlie goes to the full length mirror and
stretches out a body rubberbanded and weather beaten
with colors: (sun rain wind and painted his face)
Charlie loves his body
so Charlie loves himself
Charlie is a favorite guest
(Smells out what needs doing and does it)
He eats like a deer in the forest
restrained
unobtrusive
He sleeps quiet like a mouse in a house made for everyone.
Fathers with pretty daughters trust Charlie
One day sweet Charlie...everyone's Uncle Charlie...Poor Charlie
grows old
when he visits
he saddens with goodness
he seems stained with melancholy
Charlie's sweet wine
vinegars
still Charlie fixes everything
His face weathers
like a hickory nut
people come to photograph it
Charlie wants to go beyond his
image of Charlie
but he just smiles
and they click.