The bear came quietly after dark
no one still around the fire
heard it knock the garbage over
or drag the bags
shreds and wrappers
strewn across the dark yard
like stars
like rotting constellations

We feasted hours earlier
cracking the crab legs
dragging out meat
with tiny forks
Summer is sweet work
a bowl for the rinds
another for the pits
nothing good under the sun
except for this