Coppertone

Cindy never burned, she got so dark.
Badges of honor held by strap line marks
Then there was me with the oversized tee
Protecting my tender pink shoulders.
Marco Polo, the younger kids screamed
Cindy yelled back when their splashes reached
Our chaise lounge chairs, but she didn't care
Just reapplied the Coppertone
Uncap the brown bottle, pour on the gold
Number 4 Coppertone
Over the stomach, the back of the thighs
Stay until the clock says five
Cindy's mom bought her a two- piece suit
While I wore a Speedo in gym class blue
That summer in Florida, I wished I were you
All the girls wished they were you
Can I climb on your shoulders, boy said to his
dad.
Unaware that dad had been staring at
The girl with the tan, he wished his hands
Were rubbing in the Coppertone
Uncap the bottle and pour on the gold
Slather on the Coppertone
One day like her, I'll be sun kissed
Lay until the clock strikes six
Remember the scent of sand and sea
Of coconut mixed with chlorine.
She rolled over and asked me
Dottie, Can you get my back
Uncap the brown bottle, pour on the gold
Number 4 Coppertone
We sunned til eight and then the next day
We put back on the Coppertone