For Felicia~ By Dennis Reed

For Felicia, who almost became my girlfriend
that night…
 
For spun records
in dark basements.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
 
while I held you for three minutes…
a sweaty wedding with
my Blye Shop knit on.
 
Your hands digging into my sides
or holding onto my scarred basketball back,
before we went to the roof top
where you had been before.
 
I did not want to lay you down
on granite and stones
so you could lose your virginity again

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Author Bio:
Dennis Reed is a native New Yorker and has taught writing courses at Morehouse College, William and Mary and Richmond Community High School. His work has appeared in Essence, Style and CLA.