I was baptized in a hot tub
in the home of elderly brethren
a few blocks from my parents’ home

My parents, siblings
and best mate bore witness
as I answered my pastor’s questions
in the affirmative, submitted
to the laying-on of hands
allowed him to submerge me
beneath the lukewarm water

I surfaced believing
I was cleansed, newborn, forgiven
free from guilt and sin
as pure as I would ever be

Afterwards my pastor and I
shared glasses of Black Label
and toured the home
of our elderly brethren
politely feigned interest
in silver spoons collected abroad
and glass cases filled with musty dolls