appealing

The Maynard
Spring 2018

Melissa Weiss
0:00
 
 

Dear Chepe,

We’ll drink Coronas with lime
and salt. Pet sharks in open tanks
at the aquarium. At Chuck E. Cheese’s
you’ll win a stupid duck whistle
in the claw machine. Hum it full
of mantras like Happy Together. Crazy in Love.
            You’ll give me a piggyback ride
in my UVic dorm room. Chuckle
over tumbles into mini fridges.
Scuff marks on wall plaster.

But
for Christmas you’ll make me a scrapbook and
I’ll tell you not to send it.
Te amo, you’ll say. I won’t reply.

I still have that damned whistle
on my bedside table.