Long Beach Oblations 

by RAMSEY MATHEWS

Like nesting terns waiting for sundown 
you & I watched the low ocean waves 
our bellies full of sex & lobster 
until the sea settled like a couch 
& you went home to him   & I went home. 

I walked past the gay cafés 
past young men in denim 
draped out the doors & windows 
like calla lilies & caladiums drinking gin
& I gazed at sailboats dancing among oil tankers 
moored to the horizon like a postcard 
& the ginger sun lingered longer than usual
beneath the bridge & the terns bathed
their feet & faces in the darkening salt sea.