“promise to obey”

at eight, I barely remember the wedding

of double-corona cigar smoking cousin Albert Pieroni

to Celia Esteban, the two-legged beauty from the east-

end of Providence, half Spanish on her father’s side,

the mother’s side, Italian.

she was born by the lick of fire.

between psalms, I remember fantasizing on what it would

be like to stick my head between her legs and fall asleep there.

this was one of the great daydreams of my life.

at the altar when she promised Albert to “obey” him, it made sense.

Tony “the pinhead” Scelsi, promised Albert the same thing

and wound-up in a dumpster behind the A&P. 

well, at least they thought it was Tony.

welcome the the family, cousin Celia.