THE SHOWER

by Joanna Gilman Hyde

I turned on The Water

in what’s called Eliza’s Shower

& unbuttoned My LL Bean Rose Striped Linen Shirt

in The Mirror, Eliza’s Mirror

& took off My Grey Capris

which I have to throw out

because My Husband told Me

They go up The Crack of My Butt

I took off My Underwear

& tossed It in Eliza’s Laundry Basket

I took off My Unwieldy Bra

& hung It on a doorknob

How Long Is This Poem Going To Be?

I looked at My Body’s Profile

& decided if I look fat

I am probably about to get My Period

I stepped in behind The Curtain

The Stall was dirty

I put cleanser on a cleaning rag

I cleaned while The Spray was on Me

& rinsed The Tub

My Hair Was Wet

I squeezed out some Nizoral

Red In My Left Hand

& lathered My Hair

The Directions advise to leave It in

for 3-5 minutes

so I stepped back out

to look at My Watch

It told Me I was in The Twenty-second minute

OH!  That’s When I Cleaned The Tub!

I cleaned The Tub & then Me

& rinsed My Hair

& got out

I towelled off in a clean towel

& took My Clothes

back to My Room

to put on Different Clothes

& Do You Know What I Put On?

I put on Black Underwear

My Black Push-up Bra

Black LL Bean Capris w/ Comfort Waist

Black Tank

Silver Earrings

Wedding Rings

Quartz Crystal & Diamond Question Mark Ring

& My Ladies Bulova Open-heart Watch

I bought for My Self