taking your sunsets   1. I once dated a woman who never wanted to share a sunset with me. with anyone. that was for herself and her sacred something. 2. Another paradise tainted-- I would often go to the cliff of the ocean To run my dog. To stretch out my bones ease out the Accumulated duress, anxiety, indignation           To crash and sizzle washing impurities Cleansing Purifying     again to face them IT again. My sunsets. More perfect than a yellow stone. More pure than an dandelion affixed to a tree More shiny than a new, sleek car. This one evening I ran down with my dog Felt alive for the short jog Dog bouncing along ahead of me I noticed the spot I typically would go to was invaded with           Gangsta types. Hip-hopers with those big-baggie clothes The ubiquitous oversized (like fucking moo-moos) white t-shirts Black black jackets. Cussing. Dump speak. Violent talk. They acted out a shooting and shot it with their digital camera while Carrying a half-gallon of jack Daniels As they ran along. Not bother me. They have a right to sunsets too. I moved towards another spot and more of them came I found a spot and started doing my push-ups, stretches, prayers towards the            Watery horizon. A man in a garishly printed (not unlike jimmy buffet) shirt       Stood behind me looking out over the water. The burning reds, blues, yellow going down-- he has a water bong and lights it. Takes in a big toke and coughs My sun still there. My waves crashing. MY WAVES.            I wont let them take this from me. My dog continues his fulfillment un-phased A lady walks her two black and tan German Shepard's behind me      I resume my thing Her dogs are off their leashes They run over to mine. There is a scramble my dog falls and tumbles in The sand. They lady is yelling Yelling. Her dogs wont get off. They ignore her authoritative screams. She jots over. Pulls them away (not looking at me or saying anything to me) She jams the leashes on them and walks back up the hill. Then she throws one of the dogs in the sand and pins it down Hovering over it. Reprimanding. Over and over. No no no. calling its name Forcing it down. Stay! Growling at it. Scolding. Yelling. Discipline. I check on my dog. Fine. We go back to Our sunset. -michael j tino 2007 back