This poem was recently revised, and because it never appeared on the blog, it is now posted out of chronological order.

Life Drawing

Nov 14 2005

Life drawing.

The naked body

as object.

From the neck down

stiff as rigor mortis.

While the eyes still dance,

peering-out, as if trapped

in flesh and bone.

For the pleasure of others

one more unnatural pose.

Students scattered

on every side,

except an awkward young man

who draws from behind

eyeless.

Line drawing.

Soft graphite

rubbed into paper.

Hard charcoal

you cannot erase.

Black on white

in a bare fluorescent space,

cold enough

to make skin shiver

goose-bump, shrink.

Draw water.

Draw breath.

Draw blood.

You draw because

the hope that function follows form.

That shades of grey, on plain white paper

might make today

immortal.