The Baptisms

Initially, it was proposed
to take place in the river
Remember that vividly,
how beautiful it would be
But instead it happened
in a suburban backyard
A round, flimsy plastic pool
The water unnaturally blue
and searing the nostrils
with the scent of chlorine
No glamour to be found there,
so I don't remember my own
Just exiting the water,
precariously by plastic ladder
Dad had to be removed though,
paralyzed by it, and rendered
unconscionable and confused
How violently he shook,
he appeared to be freezing
The towels did not warm him
Holy water dripped from his pores,
diluting with his sweat,
and poured as tiny streams
through the coarse hair of his head
Those eyes were sealed,
trying to escape the images
I don't know how long we waited
beneath his knee, praying
for his safe return to us
Later, he remarked that night
the demons left their dwellings,
fleeing every one of his pores
I couldn't grasp it then
and now I only wonder
if they've returned