SUCKING THUMBS

Sucking Thumbs

A cloth wrapped a thumb
in pepper,
Mama said,
"Sucking thumbs not
suitable for a lady."

But, she let a
boogie man
into my room,
windows not locked
on a Friday when
Joe Lewis was
fighting in the parlor

Reckon a boogie man
took note how poor
we were, it's nineteen -
fifty two -

Wonder if he knew
Papa had to borrow
a rich man's car to
deliver his dead son
to his grave?

Nancy Duci Denofio