Episcopal Bath
by Jan Ball
He spurts the Johnson’s Baby
Shampoo into his soft palm then
caresses her blonde head while
supporting her little back with his
other hand, concentrates to wash
carefully between her toes,
under her arms, between her legs,
lingering there as she giggles,
then, as elated as when he raises
the monstrance after consecrating
the host, he rinses her and dries
her damp fingers one by one
with the fresh pink towel provided
by her parents.
Downstairs, Kate and Robert smile
with pleasure that Father Joe has
once again asked to bathe
their little darling.
Shampoo into his soft palm then
caresses her blonde head while
supporting her little back with his
other hand, concentrates to wash
carefully between her toes,
under her arms, between her legs,
lingering there as she giggles,
then, as elated as when he raises
the monstrance after consecrating
the host, he rinses her and dries
her damp fingers one by one
with the fresh pink towel provided
by her parents.
Downstairs, Kate and Robert smile
with pleasure that Father Joe has
once again asked to bathe
their little darling.
Jan Ball’s poems (319 of them) have been published in journals such as Atlanta Review, Calyx, Connecticut Review, Main Street Rag, and Phoebe. iHer two chapbooks "accompanying spouse" and "Chapter of Faults," as well as her first full-length book, I Wanted to Dance With My Father, have been published by Finishing Line Press. When not working on her poetry, exercising with her personal trainer, or traveling, Jan and her husband like to cook for their friends.