Tikki Poem by George Murdock

Met her in a record store in Downey
in 1963,
she was fourteen.
A coy smile and a round pretty face
golden hair and a yellow bow
over her ear.
she was quiet, shy, crossed her arms
and her chubby bare feet when she spoke
causing bedlam,
churning sensations, heart flutter
Miserlou pounding in my forehead.
Tikkis and coca mattes and “Angry Sea, ” Barefoot Adventure” “ Golden Breed”
posters next to a cut out of
Sammy Lee and his cannon ball wipeout,
pinned on sea green paisley wallpaper
In her surfer den bedroom.
Mindful to put my feet down
When her dad passed the open door
Or her mom came in with sandwiches
I had no idea what I was doing then,
No more than now.
We still drive down to “Old Man’s”.
Spend the day surfing next to the twin
mounds of” Dolly Parton”.