good genes

I enter a hot dog eating contest
for the 4th of july
picnic, but I can only eat a half
of one.
mustard and relish are all over
my shirt.
the winner eats 59 and washes it
down with sweetened tea.
she's a little
Chinese woman, slender as a reed.
I ask her what her secret is and
she laughs,
good genes she says. good genes,
then she staggers around the back.