Crab

cancer is the crab
scuttling in sideways
unexpectedly biting your toe
the salty sea stinging your eyes
smelling hotdogs and sunscreen.

It is the clumps of hair in the bathtub drain
the laundry list
cucumber, english muffins,
haagen dash ice cream
(it has more protein)

It is the clean slice
crisp as the air on a winter day
the sun shining bright and weak

It is the tea bag
salty with your teardrops
left on the coffee table
in front of the fire

do we really go dust to dust?
or sea to shining sea?