the girl from the carnival (jch -- 9/96)
and then
in that summer
i met the girl from the
carnival

skinny-dipping
in McMullen’s Creek
with the cow pasture there
and rock’n’roll
playing in the background

she had small breasts
and a nice ass
and an all over tan
and when we made love under
the hot, noon sun,
she lost all inhibition

there was an innocence in her face
when she read “ego tripping”
to students and faculty in the
school library
and i knew i was under her spell

and dancing in nightclubs in Charlotte
wearing a tight dress
with nothing on underneath
drinking liquor and smoking dope
in the parking lots
of concerts
then partying with strangers
we would never see again

and then she said
she loved me
but when things start feeling safe,
she always moves on

(i was the one
i was the broken-hearted little boy
with the notebook full of silly, little
love poems
and where were you in
my dour hour?)

the poetry page
the joseph c hinson home page

(both hand sketches by joe)