mentholated

you smell like a jar of mentholated
heat rub because you've been
rubbing it onto your body
for a week.
people look at you when you
stand in line for coffee
and rub their noses.
you pretend not to notice,
avoiding eye contact.
when you get home you rub
more on. it gives you a rash,
and it burns the top layer
of your skin, making it feel
like it's on fire,
but it says it's
highly recommended by
four out of five doctors for
relieving muscle soreness.
you believe this,
you believe a lot of crazy things
you see on late night tv,
so you keep lathering it
onto your shoulders, your knees,
your elbow and feet,
smelling like a eucalyptus
tree.