The sunscreen glues to my skin Caking my pores The soft down of my arms laced with Traces of thick white fondant. I lay on the deck Sunning myself like a lizard On New Mexican granite The heat reflects off the radiant surface Further cooking skin Like crackling bacon. With no pool parties to attend No watermelon to slice open Juice running in rivulets To culminate in sticky ponds No laughing knitted community To engage with jokes and company I spend a solitary holiday Contemplating what it means to Be American. I decide I like the pool parties The barbecues, the cluster of Closely woven friendships The freedom to bare…