Red Sugar

Shooter

Shooter I shoot the old man who followed my 11-yr-old body on Smithfield St/because I smiled at him/because it was Xmas/I shoot the man who jacked-off/on the bricks of our house/put a ladder to my window when I was 12/I shoot the professor who said my work was illogical, then used me for publicity when I won an award/the businessman who wanted to talk about my teenage breasts/I’m loading & re-loading/the guy who walked up to me when I was a cashier & asked about my “hole”/I hope you still like me when I say the gynecologist stuck his tongue down my throat when I was 16/the writer who read his gang rape poem to a room of women students/I’m putting my finger on the problem/the men who pose as feminists/the predators/the rapists/the bullies & thugs among us/my uncle who tried to kiss me when he was drunk/my 60-yr-old neighbor who grabbed me when my parents weren’t home/it was my fault/a man named Roy who wouldn’t stop when I said no/he said shut up, he said now/he taught me to love the trigger/I’m shooting the cook who grabbed me from behind in the restaurant kitchen/the famous poet who said there are no great women writers/the boyfriend who left his handprint in black & blue/the men who say we’re too serious, prettier when we smile/I’m smiling & shooting/the shrink who tried to lock me up/the boss who gave me a ride home/wanted a blow job/pushed my head down/the poet who said I didn’t praise him enough/here’s one for you/the restaurant manager who told me to grow a thicker skin & wear a skimpy uniform/because really we have an attitude/we need to lighten up/I shoot all the men I’ve left off the list, so I don’t have to worry my pretty little head about it. 14 BeattyPGS:Layout 1 2/5/08 8:28 PM Page 14 ...