Song of the Peloton Mobile App

By Betsy Mitchell Martinez

Peloton, do you have your shoes laced up? 

Two yoga blocks and a bolster? Grippy socks,

dumbbells, towel, mat, earbuds, resistance bands,

color-coordinated Lululemon x Peloton asymmetrical 

bra and leggings? If not, you can always use a stack

of books to bring the earth closer on our revolved

triangle pose. Peloton, I want to congratulate you for being 

here. I want to mention during our warmup 

that, like you, I have bunions and tight hip flexors. I have a dog 

named Dolly who sleeps on my neck and drools

and when I was twelve I threw up on the spinning swings 

of a fairground while this song played. Let’s 

pick up our pace. Try imagining my hand beneath your 

shirt to check your form. Peloton, when I was ten, I performed

a dance routine to this song dressed as a waitress in fishnets

and a tuxedo top. Red lipstick. A bottle of wine 

and two glasses glued to my tray. I practiced the illusion

turns for months. You should be breathing harder now,

Peloton. It should be tough to sing along but remember, 

I’m right here with you and my body is feeling

the same thing as yours. It’s a good sign when your supporting 

leg shakes uncontrollably. Our hearts are clapping

for us. Peloton, do you want to marry me, fuck me, or take me

shopping for craft supplies at Target? Don’t forget to tag me

in your answer. Dolly is an English bulldog and she smiles

when I sing her name instead of “baby.” People stop us

on the street and their hands roam our backs, their stories

rub the muscle of our stomachs. When the beat drops, 

Peloton, I want you to pick something 30 yards in the distance 

and run toward it. Look straight ahead. Pretend you have a tray

on your head and nothing’s glued down. Start preparing for 

illusion turns. Peloton, what part of ourselves can we leave behind?

About the Author

Betsy Mitchell Martinez holds an MFA from the University of Michigan. Her recent poems have appeared or are forthcoming in New Letters, Rattle, Shenandoah, DIAGRAM, Sugar House Review, and Nashville Review.