In the Parlor

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

My mother leads me
into the parlor
where the body
of my great uncle lay
“Don’t be scared,”
mother says

“I will place my
hand under yours,
we will touch his
forehead together.”
Like this
Mother slips her hand
away from under mine

I can not touch
I can not breath
I can not speak
I run from the room
full speed.

Pearl Mississippi, 1962