hiking the Appalachian Trail

she told me

that she used to hike through

the woods

with her

shirt off.

what? i said. no shirt,

no bra,

nothing?

it was hot, she said,

and there was no one

around

that stretch of the Appalachian

Trail for days

and  miles.

what about bug bites,

or bears,

snakes,

and hillbillies lurking

in the Georgia woods?

i didn't care, she said.

i just wanted to feel

the fresh cool air on my body.

i don't believe

you, i told her. show me.

let's go hiking.

no, she said.

i haven't known you

for that long. plus i was

drinking and doing a lot

of mushrooms

at the time.