everyone at school is talking about
the dance and the game
and it seems so small
to be comparing dresses
and dinner

Mel is over the top about
winning the float contest
and she is already forcibly enlisting
people to help on prom committee
her determination is impressive
if a little misguided
she tells me that
“my college guy”
is divine and that she’s so glad
I didn’t let her talk me into dating TJ

I go through my day
and I go to the gym
to do what I always do
but it too seems
small and pointless
and I wonder if maybe
it’s not the gymnastics
and my body
that has changed
but me