island time by carly gove

we’re on Island Time out here, he said
white flax button-up loose and starting to stick in the thunder

the girls are standing around in their black shorts and Nikes,
blond braids and ponytails start to fizz
they have been working since 3 

the outside seating is dripping and Tommy blows a 5-minute-break puff of smoke
before outing the cig in the plastic albatross by the door

the place looks cleared out,
but you can’t see the inside,
how long now?

supply truck rolls in,
gutted carcass rolls out

and the girls are still standing,
like they’re teaching the world what confidence means
young fresh faces like under-ripe fruit

softening drizzle now,
they can feel the slow dull fade a gentle end until

thunder cracks
and the sound
of breaking glass

✱✱✱

Carly Gove is often a poet from the Jersey shore. You can find some of her work in the second issue of spy kids review coming out this August, and you can find her on twitter @govenotgov. Be gentle with her.