Plate 5

from Instants
he’s alabaster sprawl
& horizontal, splayed
(
legs giving up
to the fall the other man
(
guides him to
he’s a guitar the other
(
man leans over his knee
coaxes notes from spinal
(
column & chord
Jacob & angel
(
he’s statued & sussed
pended & dares
(
to trust this solidity
of momentary air

Philip Metres
Plate 5 is from Instants (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2006).