Even under Close Scrutiny

by Benjamin Rhodes

---

I've once again wet the inner corner of my thigh
not holding the cup of my STP close enough
against my body. Either it was too far to the left
 
or the amount of liquid inside spilled up over
the lip patented specifically to prevent this,
meant to funnel the piss down and out efficiently,
 
to harbor any excess and make sure your pants
remain the only pair you wear for the day, unless
you're already the type to change more than once,
 
shift your outerwear to match your mood. In Florida
my dad Facetimed his new girlfriend every night
for several hours. I'm shirtless on the beach
 
for the very first time. My pink neckerchief
makes a hat-wearing veteran stop in his tracks,
stare at me walking by and shake his head. Twice
 
across the sand a tortoise crawled to the ocean.
Twice each shell was hand-deposited among
the reeds. Silly thing, back where it belongs.

---

]Benjamin Anthony Rhodes is a queer and trans poet living in Northeast Ohio. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Kent State University and a BA in English from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. His work can be found in Cleveland Review of Books, LimpWrist, Cowboy Jamboree Magazine, and in the upcoming collection from Madville Publishing, "Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology."

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