Two wolves lay in the court at dawn -- still hot
from the tip-off, rebound, block -- I see the young'n
who thought he had it, so close he had it ... but your hands
& with them your body --
locomotive after loco-motive
comes & I am bound to the
perpendiculars by my wrists & ankles, hair wild as an ostrich's
back. Tell me, is my whole body worth your arriving
to the station -- dame & kerchief, cowhide satchel, fool goodbye?
I am not afraid. Not
tearful. Your freight rhythm
on cauldron rails hits & Dizzy
scats on the sidelines while Louie sings you go to my head. I am un-
winding, color-kin to coral and dissolving. Is the station full or
emptied? Will you imagine the division (or) high-lit, steel-heavy,
push your hands
into the coals
(call this)
& watch my body travel?
-- C. M. Burroughs
C.M. Burroughs lives in Bloomfield and teaches at the University of Pittsburgh. Her publications include PLUCK!, Bat City Review, Texas Poetry Journal and Cave Canem's 10x10 Series. Many writers featured in Chapter & Verse are guests of Prosody, produced by Jan Beatty and Ellen Wadey. Prosody airs Tuesdays night at 7 p.m. on independent radio, WYEP 91.3 FM.
