Captain Hook’s Lover Boy

“John was dreaming

of Neverland again”

—Geraldine McCarrghean

Peter Pan in Scarlet

First it was a play—

Then it was a book

Then it as a money pot

I stroked Peter’s head—

His shiny hair with him

Visiting me once again

Something bulged under—

The sheets, I pulled them

Back, it was a Cutlass

It was short and sharp—

Shaped like a mean hook

Up past his bellybutton