Aidan Chafe

Waves of Mermaid

The sea swallows sailors by the ship,

but we still sour over three waves

of mermaid. Isn’t man-made a type of

warning label? The first rule of masculinity

is you never talk about masculinity.

Wizard is to witch as player is to whore.

When police questioned the assault rifle

he confessed it was in his nature.

Mayday! There are women posed as women

in women’s locker rooms. In my dream,

my hockey coach places his heavy hand

on my shoulder, says there is a rugged

gentleness to my game, I play as though

I am the softest cloud in the sky.