Baptism or The Day I Bathed in Front of Hundreds [1998]

In the name of
THE FATHER
THE SON
and
THE HOLY SPIRIT

Lukewarm water engulfed my sins
I do not remember my thoughts then
Only now do I look back
laughing
Then Dripping
And Now
unbelieving

It would be fun to go back
maybe add some bubble bath to the baptistry
Foaming Re-birth
Shining
The smell of bubblegum bubble bath
The pastor dunking up a frenzy
as children line up
Smiling
Rubber Ducks born again
Water wings squeaking as children cry
Eyes irritated by bubblebath

A warm towel awaited me afterwards
it’s embrace now more symbolic than the immersion
I relive it every morning
only
now I don’t have to believe