I went to the beach
yesterday
sand and sun
you could smell the surf
and feel salt on your skin
you laid next to me almost
naked
I too ashamed of myself
sat uncomfortably in the
sand like a turtle
flipping over onto your back
I saw your chest expand
and relax the mounds of
muscle found their rippled
beneath winds off the water
the trail of hair trailed from
your nipples to a straight line
disappearing beneath your shorts
where they swelled with your sex
what’re you staring at you squinted
nothing turning away ashamed
you can look
you said
it’s not looking that I wanted
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 