you were leaning against the windows of the fudge store
looking bored, way too cool
pawing the silver chain around your neck

i walked by, flip flops catching between wooden boards
i swear
i didn't trip on purpose
but you laughed just the same

in the ocean the next day
what a happy accident, really
you'd been treading water not far away

i pretended to get pinched by a crab
the silver glistened against that too tan skin
the glint disappeared under the water as you made your way toward me
"are you okay?"

"yeah there's just something in the--"
i jumped again, feigning pain
there was nothing there, of course

the waves rolled over our shoulders
we moved with them so easily

the next day we had greasy clam strips
cold tartar sauce
salt and wind in our hair

sitting on a carefully laid out towel
"can you tell me about your family in jersey, again?"
no, that's silly
i wasn't even listening the first time
just watching the way your neck looked
every time you swallowed

i used to think the ocean was scary
its dark, endless, rolling currents
dragging us all to the horizon
frightening creatures in the depths
sunlight disappearing over our heads
is this where we're all born?

but that's where i first talked to you
a lie bubbling from the deep
rushing to get some air

up here on the shore it's much brighter
we can go inside the fudge shop now
ride the ferris wheel
buy books from the little shop off oak avenue

i still have the bookmark we got
pressed between the sandy pages
of the swarm from schatzing

it's travelled with me on all my moves
cemented to that bookshelf

i know i'll never read it because
i'm not into the english translation  
and i don't think that shrines should be disturbed