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.

 
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)