"On the Edge at Dog Beach" by Cece Peri

On the Edge at Dog Beach

I walk miles
over ancient rocks
and tide pools,

along the coastal trail
that ends with a hop
onto Dog Beach.

A man, sitting
on the outcrop,
blocks my way.

He’s on his computer.
His brown Labrador 
runs along the beach.

I ask him nicely to move.
He tells me to wait
until he’s finished.

I wait thirty seconds,
maybe a minute,
then ask,

“What’s your dog’s name?”
Not looking up,
he says, “Benedict.”

I say, “Bet that’s your
password.”
He shuts his laptop

and moves.

Cece Peri

Cece Peri’s poems have appeared in Malpais Review, Luvina: The Los Angeles Issue, Askew, NoirCon, Beyond the Lyric Moment, Spillway, San Diego Poetry Annual, Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond, and will be included in the upcoming Los Angeles issue of Pratik. She received poetry awards from NoirCon, Arroyo Arts Collective, and honorable mention in the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize. One of her poems, “Trouble Down the Road,” was featured in Poetry.LA’s YouTube video series “They Write by Night” hosted by Suzanne Lummis. Cece was born and raised in New York City, but now calls Los Angeles home.

Headshot: Anthony Paul

Photo Credit: Shayne Schultz