Chitra Ganesh, How to Assemble a Flying Car (detail), 2018, linocut on tan BFK Rives. Courtesy of the artist & Durham Press.
Father And Son
I was joking
(there was always
that)
when I moved
my fingers down
the buttons
of her blouse
and then around
the knots
of the breasts.
When she moved
her legs apart,
I took her thighs
between my hands
and rubbed
them down
and up.
And then
I stood
and walked
into the bathroom
to see
how I looked
in the mirror
when the dark rises
above the neck.
Eyes,
I could live with
without seeing.
Then,
the water.
Fuck you, I said,
And stood still.
The second book of poems from Jason Shinder, Among Women, is forthcoming from Graywolf Press in April 2001. His other books include several poetry anthologies, the annual series Best American Movie Writing, and, forthcoming in December 2000 from Harper Collins, Tales from the Couch: Writers on Therapy. He is on the faculty of the graduate writing programs at Bennington College and the New School University. (updated 2000)