Shallow Water

Out on the mud flats the heron wait
for the next tide to bring in tasty bits,
Jimmy and Buster are on the oyster boat
with a couple of beers, behind the smugery

my tribe doesn't expect to be taken seriously,
we are the six fishermen
sitting on lawn chairs in shallow water,
it's not lazy, it's restful.

In the kitchen Carol is chopping peppers
for the salad, she says,
"Did I tell you about Gary?"
Carol told me all I didn't need to know

about Ed getting arrested
behind Charlie's Tavern, Christy's flirting games
at her birthday party, the school teacher
getting fired. I have a cold,

there's great irritation around my head,
"No, what about Gary."