The Boyhood Dilemma

I have a rational fear of waking up

to find I’ve grown a penis.

Don’t you?

Stovetops deceive me—

I know not to touch fire

unless fully necessary,

but a child does not observe

electric subtleties.

Think back to when you were a boy;

wasn't that fun?

When I was, my father told my mother

he loved her; he could have married

someone beautiful. Instead,

he chose her.

Three times I said:

“Hot,”            

(Hot, hot,            hot.)

My father is a happy man

when I burned my hand

on the electric stove.

I cut my hair all off

when I was four—had a boy face

already, but safety scissors do not stick

to original plans.

My pre-school boyfriend has three babies

now, more or less. They’re all fat,

and their father is also

a happy man-            boy.