she missed his boat

as we sat at a table

overlooking the bay,

picking crabs apart,

she told me,

whatever you do,

don't buy a boat

when

you retire.

okay,

i told her. i won't.

my last boyfriend had a boat,

and he

spent all his free time

on it.

cleaning it,

maintaining it,

always fixing something

that was

broken,

or covered in mold

and barnacles.

it cost a ton of money

to fill it with gas,

so he had to beg his friends

to come along,

and chip in.

and you had to constantly

check the weather

for storms

before you took it out

or take a chance of being sunk.

someone always had to tie

it up too,

or do whatever it took to

get it going, like

taking it off

a trailer, or putting it on

a trailer.

plus there where harbor

fees

and all of that.

license, insurance, etc.

so whatever you do, don't,

don't

buy a boat, she told me.

okay, i told her. i won't.

i promise,

then i picked up another crab

and smacked it with a mallet.

she turned away, taking a long

sip of her wine,

and stared out at

the water as the sun set.

she looked very very sad.