Ash Wednesday Once Poem by Terry Collett

Ash Wednesday. The dab of ash
On the forehead by the old priest.
The way his shaking thumb pushed
It there. Lent begun. What are you
Going to give up? Peggy asked him
Afterwards on the way from church.
I haven’t thought about it Henry replied.
You ought to she said. The feel of the
Priest’s thumb still itched his forehead.
And what to put in its place in case the
Devil creeps in she added giving him a
Sideward glance. He sensed her glance.
Last year I gave up the smokes he said.
For two days she said. It was a try he
Muttered. No point trying if you don’t
Have the will to succeed. He kept quiet.
There was that perfume of hers coming
To him on the wind. The perfume she
Wore that day they had sex in the school
Gym during the lunch hour before double
Science. He sniffed the air. It was still there.
The first time. The sound of others out
In the grounds. The mats and ropes and
Gym apparatus all around them. The gym
Mats were rough. I’ve given up chocolate
Peggy said suddenly pricking the balloon
Of his memory. I’m putting in an Ave in its
Place she added. Maybe I’ll give up on
Chocolate too Henry said. You hardly eat
Chocolate said she. I can hardly fail then
Henry put in. That misses the whole point.
She stared at him. And what would put in
Its place? He thought of the way she lay
There in the school gym. The perfume in
The air. Meditate on the seven deadly sins
He muttered putting his hand in hers.
She squeezed his hand. Flesh on flesh.
Give up the smokes she said. Put a Pater
Noster in its place. It was Ash Wednesday.
Sex in the gym. Back then. She and him.