Sunday, August 28, 2016

Anatomical Illustration

Its purpose though, to instruct, the figure
on the chart, causes me discomfort –
standing still, the pencil
sketch of a man, his skin peeled
then folded, for me to see
what lies beneath –bundles
of plump, pinked muscles, each, labeled –
a careful list of names. At first, I feel, a sense
of awe at the body’s strict complexity; each
ligament’s pull, each tendon’s clench,
marvelous – such perfect rules of joints.
What appears next, though, is regret –as I
imagine myself, the odd beneficiary,
of mercy killings, figure studies, scores
of practiced death.  

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