Excitement abates when we discover Coach B is in charge of the PE curriculum. The first thing he bellows is to undress. “We’re going to jump right in—pun intended,” referring to the school’s new indoor pool. And by undress, he means every last stitch is to be placed in our lockers. We are ordered to line up by the pool, as if for a military inspection. Awkward and silent except for the Here of roll call, we avert our eyes from his glare that continually sizes us up.

fully exposed 
the intense sting 
of chlorine 

We count out eight groups of six, only our hands to cover our privates. Coach B spurts out rules like buckshot. So much for jump right in. He enjoys making his grunts squirm. A sickly redhead who cannot swim dares to interrupt, asking what he’s supposed to do. Coach shouts, “Give me 25 pushups and stand at the baby end of the pool. Now, anyone else?”

between 
boys and men 
rip currents 

The first four groups assemble at the deep end, and one by one jump in the pool and swim to the end where the redhead miserably stands. They return to the original formation as the second four groups have their turn at a half-lap. We spend more time standing than swimming, only now we’re wet and shivery. And so the cruelty continues.

Suddenly Coach B screams, “Stop!” He struts over to a heavy student and barks, “What’s this? Chubs with a chubby?” At which everyone looks at his penis, which is at least partially erect. Snickers and laughter until Coach gives us all the evil eye. The embarrassed student turns, runs to the locker room door, but it’s locked, and he realizes he’s trapped. He spends the rest of the period standing with the redhead, blubbering.

chain link rails 
a leap into the dark 
river below 

Scott Wiggerman

Albuquerque poet and artist Scott Wiggerman is the author of four books of poetry, including his newest: a collection inspired by lines and themes of Emily Dickinson, Beginning and Ending with Emily: Ghazals & Golden Shovels (Casa Urraca Press, March 2026). Wiggerman is the co-organizer of the annual Albuquerque Poets’ Picnic at the Open Space Visitor Center, as well as co-editor for two decades at Dos Gatos Press. The latter has produced numerous books of Southwestern U.S. poetry, including the most recent, Notes of Light and Dark: Southwestern Aubades and Nocturnes (The Southwestern United States, Number Six), and the best-selling two-volume series Wingbeats: Exercises & Practice in Poetry.

More on the Web: By, About, and Beyond

⚡ Voices From Each Side of a Triangle, braided cheribun story by Scott Wiggerman, short-listed Finalist in MacQ’s Third Cheribun Challenge (Issue 29, August 2025)

⚡ Brothers by Blood, braided cheribun by Wiggerman, short-listed Finalist in MacQ’s Second Cheribun Challenge (Issue 24, August 2024)

⚡ The Things I Do for Porn, braided cheribun by Wiggerman, long-listed Finalist in MacQ’s Second Cheribun Challenge (Issue 25, September 2024)

⚡ Wiggerman’s introduction to his curated collection of haiku on the theme of the LGBTQIA+ experience, for National Poetry Month: Haiku of the Day, April 2023; scroll down a bit to access the slide show for April.

⚡ The Story of Fire, haibun by Wiggerman in Issue 16 of MacQueen’s Quinterly (January 2023)