Girl, Pee in a Can

Girl, pee in a can,

that’s what Grandpa said.

When it rains and the men go fishing,

Girl stays in the tent all day

and pees in a can.

 

The tent, held aloft by

scratchy ropes, tied to white aspen trees,

heavy canvas, oily, sticky –

smelled of grease treatment

to make tent waterproof.

 

Girl, don’t touch the tent,

or the waterproofing will

fail and each fingerprint

will make itself into its own leaky faucet.

 

Girl, bored alone in tent,

only one Nancy Drew Mystery, already finished.

Nothing to do, as the rain pelts down, puddling,

nothing but pee in a Folger’s can

and touch the tent above

her brother’s bedroll.