Upon Asking the Cashier at Kroger to Scan That Old Tattoo of a Barcode on My Forearm
Turns out my body’s a dollar sweet potato
her register’s screen said, as she lifted
her scanner, and I laughed. I can finally call myself
Garnet, Georgia Jet, Carolina Red. Those names
Garnet, Georgia Jet, Carolina Red. Those names
of tubers—my accidental totems. So many
varieties. I might slather
varieties. I might slather
my arm in marshmallows, burrow
deep into the Southern earth. I’d gotten
deep into the Southern earth. I’d gotten
