Cut Low

no time to stop,
I hitched a ride, thumbing to the lake,
leaving my bathing suit
in the drawer, thinking only
of seeing you.

some old guy picked me
up, drove so slow, his
broken teeth
sucking
on a weed, his raw red hands grasping
the steering wheel hard, like it’d escape
and fly out
the window.

at the beach, I got out, ran
the whole way to the dock,
Jed’s boat rockin’ softly
on the water.

yes, I was hungry, I said,
and you made me a
sandwich, your bikini top
cut so low, the first
time ever I saw your flesh
exposed.

you smiled, handed me
the food, and looked me
in the eye, "Want a
beer," you asked, and
I said, "Yes," my eyes
wide with pleasure.