Maribelle

In an age ago
She was the most
Determined 16-year-
Old young woman in
Claiborne County, East
Texas tall thin a tiny waist
She opened her mail order
Silk dress dark pearl silk light
As a cloud with a split bamboo
Petticoat light as a deck of cards
She dressed for the Sunday social
Lifted out of the family buggy by
Her hulking brother and glided
Onto the green grass church
Lawn amid the dozens of
Admiring congregation
She seemed to float
From table to table
But the heat of the
Afternoon and the
Pork sausages
She ate the
Previous
Night
Caused
Her to fluff
Her dress and
The heat combined
With the methane made
Her light as a feather so it
Was almost as if she were a
Floating picture of serenity but
For the fact her feet were no
Longer on the ground as
She glided up the lawn
Toward the church so
It was unfortunate an
Updraft raised her
Gently up in her
Silk skirt to ten
Or so feet off
The ground
Her tiny
Feet in
Paten
Pumps
Visible kicking
Back and forth as
She became the first
Flying Baptist of Claiborne
County her little hands pressed
Together in prayer her tiny feet still
Kicking she floated there as young
Men tried to jump up to pull her
Down boys ran about girls just
Stared and folks gossiped
At the miracle of flight or
At least levitation but by
Late afternoon the heat
Dissipated and the pork
Sausages ceased to
Add methane and
Maribelle came
Back to earth
Walking in a
Determined
Gait back
Down the
Lawn to
The carriage
Where she was
Lifted in still light
As a feather in her
Pearl-gray silk dress
And bamboo hoop a
Legend talked of for
Decades to come
The flying Baptist
Debutante of
Claiborne
County
Texas.