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He steps up
with his small height
and too-large bony face
and prominent teeth
and legs poking at odd angles
at the fabric of his black dress pants

He makes the wedding toast
to his sister
who is pretty
and older

and you wait to see him walk
yes
something off there

stop right there
and don't discount him
for love, and sex, and marriage

less likely perhaps
but what do you know?

I know this
that you were perfect

and that
you were perfect
when you beat a dog
you were paid to walk
when you were twelve

and when you beat a dog
you were housesitting for
that kept shitting on the living room rug
when you were twenty-one

and when you beat your own dog
once
and then never beat a dog again

or anything else
for that matter

you were perfect
each of the mornings we
woke up together
there is me
there is your arm over me

which is less likely now
you and your
arm over me

or us in a watery grave
with waves moving us
and you no longer looking at me

me just passing
in and out of your
field of vision

here at the boundary layer
between Pacific and sand and

the little crabs
carrying the small pieces of us
away, away, away.