__________________for Vic
Inch by inch, I walked in
delaying yet wanting water
to conceal my body
the words in my head the whole time
"I'm swimming with one breast."
Today I take easy strokes from the beach
to the dock in my new bathing suit
its flowered frills fluttering
over my boyish chest
Earlier you took a picture of me
held the camera the long way
I bent my leg, arched my back
You've walked to the dock from the house
You roll your pants up, far as they'll go
dangle your feet in the water
I see your blunted right toe
a good part of it sliced off by a lawnmower
before I knew you
Sunnies are inspecting your feet
They peck at your toes
your soles, your legs
Fish groom each other too, you tell me
One pecks hard. You say
"Cool it buddy. Leave my hairs alone."
We laugh, together
on this dock as we haven't in a long while
The sun shines so steadily
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