I am not like them
these women waving reeking towels
who do they think they are
with their stretch marks and varicosities
their fucking Ritz Bits and apple juice
I’ve read Proust for crissakes
they talk aerobics and preschool
which restaurants have booster seats
and look abandoned when the kids run off
leaving them trapped in a folding chair
a popular jumbo paperback
I’ve got nothing to say to them
sand in the car and in the bed
digging out change for video games
I just happen to be I’m doing an exposé
yes that’s it a reporter on assignment
meanwhile atop the lifeguard post
beautiful male and female animals
not of this world
put their blond and blonder heads together
they will never let this happen
after six husbands arrive
rumpled and overdressed
uniformly unsexed even irrelevant
they parade in dripping trunks
skindiver watch and flipflops
make a show of being helpful
until the baby screams for supper
all evening strolling tony streets
nursing a chocolate cone
their reserved evening harbor cruise
with the three-piece band
and celebrity house tour
cancelled