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in December in his
father’s jeep
he fell in love
with a woman

on the coast
in his father’s jeep
he parked
on the dunes
and asked everyone
if the stars always
felt like they do now

in December
in his father’s jeep
he drove to dinner
(her family
had a logging venture)

in December
in his father’s jeep
?
?
?

when they made love
on the carpet
and he told me over
dinner how it didn’t matter
well what does a man say
but why
but why
never matters
so don’t reply
and he held onto my arm
in the parking lot

in January
in his father’s jeep
after we had dinner
I kissed his forehead

he still goes hunting
with her family
she moved down south

I call him
when I can
and send him letters
when I can

he doesn’t reply
to either
but I don’t blame him

his face tasted
like sweat and aftershave
something I smell
when I see deer
in my backyard
or when I see a jeep
like his father’s