1

round and round
spinning my head around
you've got me so wrapped up
your finger has got me coming closer
and i might fall if i come
the wheels are nervous like me
wobbling back and forth
there's only a minute we have together
and this night is almost over
it's almost ten,
two tens in a row
so maybe we might have a good one this time
right?
please let it be so
your hair is so soft,
your skin is, too
and so are you, girl
i swear to God that you and i
might spin together for eternity
right in this rink
hand in hand, teaching each other
as we go
oh, that sounds so wonderful, don't it?
you might not think so, but i do,
and there they are, please don't forget me, okay?

2

tens
dozens
hundreds
thousands
they coalesce, accumulating into a menagerie of noises
they're placed on unsteady basins, curved and dissuading
pounding, up and down, legs alternating
and he can't stop himself from staring
eyes gaze at what shorts reveal to young eyes
pale skin like canvas, ready to be painted upon
smooth like carved bark, inner lines bespeaking almost everlasting life
half a hotdog disappears behind yellow teeth
his legs stretch into their full length,
and with ketchup hiding between his incisors and buck teeth
he approaches, he knows he doesn't have much time
but he might as well try now, there's nothing he has to lose, right?
live life right now
not in your head later

3

oh god, he's coming over here
should i hide? there's nowhere to
his sight is like an eel nipping at my ankles
so annoying, so impeding, he doesn't understand
but yet i must be polite, right? what if he wants more?
i cannot give it to him, not here, on the roller rink
with all my friends around, i'll be embarrassed, and they'll
speak on it for months to come, to taint my name with his association
and not at home either, for my parents might grow suspicious and believe
me a slut, coming home with a boy when i went out the house with my friends
he cannot truly expect to win something from me
there are games over there he can play
to toy around and get the high score on, maybe
and he's got nothing to gain with me other than a scornful look
yet he comes without warning, sliding over the wood with unstable legs
he looks like a flamingo that just now learned how to walk
there they go, they're giggling, and now they're leaving
teasing me while they go, and he remains
surrounding me like a satellite,
speaking as though he owns me
he just saw me out of nowhere,
chose me out of everyone
why why why
but i have to respect him, i guess, for he might do something
smile, bethany, don't let him think you don't like him
he's got everything to lose right now, and you might shatter him
don't do it, he doesn't deserve it, he's just a young boy
his lesson needs to be learned
elsewhere than in this dark place
the disco ball above us shines with color, yes,
and the spotlights are illuminating
the pimples that unfortunately wander his face
yet i'm shrouded by his presence, darkened by the realization
that he shall remain for hours on end, speaking so dearly
as though my choice is dependent on his words
as though the first sight of him staring hadn't sent me
for a loop in the first place
be polite, be nice,
and he might have to leave early
oh please just leave early