{a nude} by Joseph Reich

version №1

recently i been a bit
concerned that my
wife is gonna stab
me right through
the shower curtain
right in the forehead
none of that melo–
dramatic
tony perkins
multiple stabbing bullshit
but a nice clean shot
right through
the curtain
and say
‘now take that…
now take the kid’
and take off once
again to the best western
where she’ll take out the phone
for a bit of rest and relaxation
(lord knows
she sure
as hell
deserves it)
and peek my
streetwise eyes
around the curtain
before i get out
like birmingham
with those big
eyes bugged out
from charlie chan
quoting the mad
lucy ricardo—
slowly i turn
step by step…

version №2

i stand with my wife in the shower
       while she insults me
and look up at falling water
       with a half–crazed smile
like looking down at niagara falls
       like some proud lost scholar
without a lover
      i threaten her that if she doesn’t choke me (soon)
i’m gonna spank her
       she’s on psychotropic medication for a bad childhood
and goes through the motions
       i look down at her aeroelas
hoping to get turned on
       like taking the long island expressway home
after seder in the fog
      later on i’ll do a literal leap of faith in her bed
50/50 she’ll take me in
       bought me one of those nice norelco electric shavers for christmas
even laid out directions
       i love her…

version №3

sometimes
at night
in her dirty
shower cap
i swear i
can hear her
whimpering
through
pipes
her sweet
little voice
sobbing
sniffling
over–
whelmed
with life
and
tears
and
fading
voice
going
right
down
the drain
along with
all her other
girly things
shampoo
conditioner
shaving cream

version №4

she’s pretty
cute as
a button

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