Winter in Jersey

Step into the booth
Artificial sunshine warms your soul
The smell of antiseptic and coconut
Keeps your feet planted on the center line

Warnings of skin cancer with prolonged use,
but you continue for fear of schoolchildren pointing you
out like an albino at the mall

The damage to your corneas
diverted with your Devo sunglasses,
you lather up the Tingle Hemp lotion and
fry like KFC original recipe.

Crank up the radio in your
personal Easy Bake Oven
You feel warm for the suggested 4
but up to maximum of 8 minutes

You step out, towel off and get dressed
Slowly shedding off a layer of epidermis
Over the next 48 hours.

You depart, waving to the orange glow stick
Working behind the desk
You will be back
To roast another day

The scent of Nostalgia

I couldn’t believe we met again
After so many years
At the local drugstore

Memories of middle school
So long ago
What was stunning is
That you are exactly the same

You were my first,
I stole you from my older sister
She was upset at first but had
Others to choose from

I couldn’t help but
Feel you out for old times sakes.
I sprayed Love’s Baby Soft into the air
And it struck me,
Damn, I must have smelled like a Carefree pantyliner though junior high.