The Comeback of Speedos
I’ll keep this brief. I remember the shock of Mr. G’s tiger-striped trunks
at the Madras Gymkhana Club. Nothing to conceal, everything to
declare, like a Mills & Boon hero. Shiver of ball and sack, acres
of hairy scrub. We could not imagine such freedom for
ourselves. To slice through chlorinated depths
with a little basket of dim sum on display.
We were girls. To open our legs
was treason. We held
our breath.
at the Madras Gymkhana Club. Nothing to conceal, everything to
declare, like a Mills & Boon hero. Shiver of ball and sack, acres
of hairy scrub. We could not imagine such freedom for
ourselves. To slice through chlorinated depths
with a little basket of dim sum on display.
We were girls. To open our legs
was treason. We held
our breath.
Notes:
From A God at the Door by Tishani Doshi (Copper Canyon Press, 2021). Reprinted with permission
This poem appeared as part of the series “Not Too Hard to Master,” a new series of poets writing on form and sharing a prompt. You can read another shape poem by Tishani Doshi, “Tigress Hugs Manchurian Fir,” as well as Doshi’s essay, “In Praise of Shape Poetry,” and her writing prompt.
Source:
Poetry
(January 2023)
