Poem

Vitruvian Man


The promise of the body
at the fingertips of your lips
on the nose of your elbows, funny
bones give symmetry
to your immortality. Your body
a temple, a recess so precise
in my imagination: a sugary bear
claw, usurped and swallowed,
ursa minor and gone.


The guidelines on the palms
of your hands curve at the needs
of the mighty oak tree that lies
like a cherry tree armpit, subtle
and crimson in the small of your back
divided like hubris, humility: hu-
man and that tattooed promise: a kissed
cinnamon tongue.


Your body exposed to the elements
of my eye, of my tortured design.
The poison of speech and the mind
of my love in letters and paper hearts,
an arrow like a matchstick straight
and rubbery sulfuric tip through
the heart's Rubik's cube
rubric promise: A Light! Alight!
Alight!


the promise of the body:
a way in, a way out, a sinister
vessel, let down, lit up
desire frown smiles like a clown:
big shoe, big shoe, white face
paint, big glove, big glove,
red nose, red lips, giant plastic tulip,
polka-dot dress, lace garter belt,
lace garter belt, white stockings, black
belt and brass buckle, big love,
big tear, split person-
ality gestalt.