I work hard at the gym
all week and by
Saturday morning
I am landing my Arabian
half the time
which is better than
none of the time
but I know landing it
in a gym full of people
who aren’t even watching
and landing it in front
of judges and coaches
and even college scouts
is another thing altogether

so this is what I am working on when Ben
walks in and scans the gym until he finds my eyes
he waves
I am on the mat, where I do the Arabian best
but then move up to the high beam
self-conscious
because of Ben

I bend my knees and look at my hands stretched out in front of me
and then throw myself up backwards and twist
all at the same time

black