Gym

*after Robert Pinsky and Heather Christle*



 



 



The trainer   the client   the desk clerk   the screen



the cell phone talker   the Lulu lemon   the camel toe cardio



   the old money type



the stud with the guns and the dark Lycra mock



the stay-at-home mom who just comes to be touched



The bench in the back and the stopwatch at click



the now two more   now two more   featherlight chide



 



This V-shaped trainer was walking toward me   the space



between the leg press and the abs was narrow but not



that narrow   Never very good at things like gyms or



people   and I was walking toward him too   I was



like *When is he going to give some room?   I need room too*   I was



like *Dude go bathe your dogs*   in my head



 



The doctor   the cyclist   the free weights   the gotchya



Mr. Universe   Mr. Platitude   Mr. Screenplay-Always-At-Ready-



   in-Pocket



Smug middle-aged and the kid companion   the Here-To-Be-Ogled



   the Let’s-Make-A-Deal



maybe does a set or two but mostly reads the magazines



The plates   the bells   the lighting   the fees



the flooring   the spacing   the exit   the rest of us