PLATTER

the beach
at night
has secrets – only seen
in the beam of a
flashlight – all the
white crabs who
skitter as if
caught in a lie or
the ones who
stand bold to do
battle – with the
claws poised sharp
points scissored wide – or the
others who hunker since you
caught them at
murder as you glance a
skinned fish quite
beneath them – with its
guts loose and missing
an eye.

-Ryn Gargulinski