sun tanning on chippy's

don't forget your keys
the back door locks automatically
wear the gayest shorts you can find
black with white trim, short as fuck

that sun is blistering
grab your things
those thighs are blinding
cell phone: check
bottled water: check
cigarettes: check

climb the rickety, paint-chipped metal staircase
with your yellow bucketful of belongings
lighter: check
journal: check
spf-not-the-fuck-enough tanning oil: check

climb the ladder to to the top tier
get as close to heaven as possible
rooftop patio now open for summer
oh yeah, remember the adjacent rooftop is full of people
fight the urge to run away

fan your towel out
and let the breeze decide where you will settle
pen: check
spf-not-nearly-the-fuck-enough tanning oil: check
coke machine glow by gordon downie: check
yes, that gord downie
check

rooftop patio now open for for all kinds of consumption
convince yourself that pauper's patrons across the way
are all laughing at you
assume they are saying,
"ew, he's deformed and out on display."
smile back at them
they can't see your vulnerability behind the cheap shades
purchased at h&m with money you didn't have
and will never get back again

rooftop patio now open for flesh sightseers with ceasars
embarrassment: check
anxiety: check
spf-product-enhances-deformity tanning oil: check

spot the girl in the window
hope she has a fetish
wish she's going to tell friends,
"i saw the hottest, deformed guy today across the way"
imagination: check
thinkagain: check
spf-you've had-enough-of-this-shit tanning oil: sigh

don't forget your keys
the back door locks automatically
rooftop patio now open for regrets
check, please