Pleasures Of Puberty Poem by Roger Hudson

In zinc tub
on red tiles of kitchen floor
his mother scrubs his back,
as he sits in the few inches
of rapidly cooling, specially-boiled water,
trying to bend body arms
to hide that first erection.

Shortly after,
Sister menstruates
And father converts
storage room to bathroom
with electrically-heated water.
Bath filled extra hot
to luxuriate in,
as room fills with steam.
Lying, relaxing sensually
on big, soft bath-towel on concrete floor,
as body sweats itself cool

Swimming in narrow stretch of local river
where no-one goes,
naked body stroked coolly
by waterlily leaves and flowing weed.
Lying to dry in warming sun
in long grass on riverbank
that patterns his skin as he presses into it,
hearing in sharp detail
the hum of insects,
the twitter of songbirds,
caw of crows,
coo of distant doves,
experiencing as new
smells of nature at ripe midsummer,
subtle shades of greenery
against clear blue sky,
subtle taste
from sucking tender end
of gently pulled grass-stalks.

All senses heightened,
luxuriating
in sensuality
of becoming,
not wanting to become,
something different,
emerging
from boyhood,
wishing for the assurance
of newly emerged
dragonflies
that dance and zoom
on rainbow wings
elegantly close
above him.