The Leg Crosser

The Leg Crosser

The Leg Crosser

Don’t cross your legs like a woman!

A man’s right-angled knee
is what money is made of
the outer bump of the ankle
rested across the other leg
and just behind the knee
a wide triangular space
for the testicles to breathe.

A lady’s pose would suffocate
the thighs engulfing each other
so bold the forward knee
so wanton the free-kicking foot
you could tip out of balance
with such missing solidity.

          What happened was prophecy
          I tipped over
          out of my own masculinity
          into schoolgirl crushes on other boys.

          I also crossed my arms incorrectly
          like shivering instead of defence
          crossed myself profanely in church
          and my eyes, when crossed,
          frightened rather than amused.

          When I crossed my delicate fingers
          long and toothy and curved like crescent moons
          I wished for the unimaginable.