My son gave me a book
of koans,
as if parenting a son isn’t
confusing enough,
as if navigating boys to men
is nothing.
He is messing with my mind,
my son.
Why? Chores? Curfew? Years of no
child support?
Still, I was raised to be
polite, so
when he gave me the book
of koans
I thanked him. He replied by
saying nothing.