Rafael

Northridge Review, Vol. 1.2 (1983)

Ricardo Means-Ybarra

In the tub we play games
with the tugboat and the wind-up hippo.
The water bounces in our close sea
sliding onto the floor
soaking the clothes thrown about.

"Mi hito, wash my back--please," I say
and he clambers over my legs
exchanging places
forgetting the soap
as he scrubs so generously,
tickling me with the loofa, laughing
"Wash daddy's back."
Then finally, the water finally still,
with no hands, he pees on me.

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