HORSE and HAT
by Jessica DePue

When Papaw went to meet his maker
It was an easy stretch from bed
Into Heaven he had been going there
His entire life, speeding in youth
Then creeping with Alzheimer's
You can't ignore the Lord
In these small Texas towns
He saturates our tongues
Thickens digestion,
Reminding of our every move
Papaw and Mamaw were proud Southern Baptists
I found a book called "Having Sex the Lord's Way"
Buried in Mamaw's lingerie drawer
I almost felt guilty
I was too young to know
People did it at all, that the Lord
Had his own way of doing it
That birds and bees did not monopolize
The domain of secret moves, primal necessities
I brought it out and Mamaw got nervous
Papaw laughed and got up
To live another ten years
Misplacing his dentures, forgetting himself
Breaking character at every turn and
Selectively avoiding church
Preferring his sleep to everything
Especially to weekly sermons
Telling him how to get to there from here
He had been practicing
He knew by now, had chosen his horse and hat
Prepared them neatly in the closet
Ready at arm's length, moment's notice
I couldn't blame him any excuse to escape
Sunday mornings' hour of eternal joy
I stayed in the car
Reading while he slept
While Mamaw attended service
Became adept at going alone
Socializing faithfully, methodically
The same way she scanned the daily obituaries
To see who had passed,
Who remained