PLATTER

the girls who
watched me
feed the cat at
last night’s
dinner said hello again
today as I
stepped from my hut they made
small talk of acorns &
seafoam -- & coconuts &
feeding the cat – their
dad’s booming voice then screamed
loud behind a palm tree said
“come here right now” it sent
shivers down our spines – I’ll bet
he told them don’t talk to
strangers – especially with
red hair and tattoos – he probably told
the girls I would chop them up in
pieces and hurl their remains in
the sea – how

sad that the world is so
paranoid – how sad that it’s
frequently justified.

-Ryn Gargulinski