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Published: Sun Oct 15 2000
Eva Lundsager, Were now like (detail), 2021, oil on canvas
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.

See what's inside AGNI 52

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)

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