MONIQUE GUTIERREZ

Apartment Ponds

It’s spring time,
but it feels like summer.
The heat is cooking my brown skin, as we speak.
I could tolerate it,
if I was fit,
but these love handles tho!
Our pool was cleaned yesterday,
but not really.
Ducks have waddled their way
into our apartment complex
and made it their home.
It’s fine by me,
because I don’t think I’ll do much swimming.
I can see it now.
Floating on my back
and bumping into Sir Ducksworth.
I don’t mean to drink the water,
but I always end up tasting it.
How can I not dip my head in?
I used to hate the smell of chlorine on my body
after getting out of a pool.
I wonder if that’s how the ducks feel?

Monique Gutierrez is a CNA in Artesia, California with five years’ experience, helping seniors with their daily living. She is an English major and has earned certificates for Medical Assisting, Creative Writing and Business Communication Office Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys drinking coffee, writing, playing video games and watching movies with family or friends. You can find her at a local Starbucks, with ear pods on full blast or at home cuddling with her dogs.