Marc Desmond

I came to write this poem after hearing Kelly Van de Plasse feature at the Pink Pony. She read several pieces from a series on brand names and what they meant to her, and while she was reading, she was drinking from a bottle of Poland Spring water. I thought it would be hilarious if she ended with a poem about Poland Spring, but she didn't--so I wrote one myself.

POLAND SPRING WATER

she was the most powerful woman

i had ever worked for a sleek civilized viking

with eyes like melting glaciers

she took me in from icy freelance winds

and gave me two chances

all i ever needed

suddenly one year water was everywhere

carefully laundered lavishly promoted water

men toddled around the office in loafers

drinking conspicuously from water bottles

with thick plastic nipples

embarrassed i turned my eyes away

and tried not to understand

one day she called me into her office

and said i had been staring at her breasts

at the weekly editorial meetings i told her

i had always had trouble meeting the eyes

of my superiors but the truth was i had been staring

past her breasts at the twin pillows of her thighs

she gave me my second chance

and i needed no other

i was the only one she ever accused

and i was the only one who never touched the water

now she is gone and when i’m thirsty

i buy poland spring in the ugly old-fashioned bottle

bald of nipple

and i drink lustfully

like a grownup