Shadow

In shadow of the nose
Hiding face with face
Giving break by switching sides
Sharing space with arm
Face to pit
Arms overhead
Keeping even
With four o'clock sun
Even with carbon
Stuck in the arm
Burning in sun
Blacker than not
Hairs are fair
Skin is fair
Even black shorts
Are not as hot
As charred skin
Or injected skin
Or ink on skin
Face is face
To save it from the sun
Is to save it for another day
Another trip
Another towel
A beach or pool
A desert or hike
Another naked return
To the crispy center
Of everything we stand on
And stand for

--
Gary Memi
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