Man with Birds
(after Rufino Tamayo’s Hombre con pájaros, 1945)
aorta! these sticks spit
opposable thumbs separate
deciduous or dead where
have I left the leaves my
flesh my second set
of non-migratory feathers
my ephemeral surplus
I knowed you were up
to no good it’s best we shout
to show your bones
appropriate the neighbors
provident cache of the down-low stash the bright scrub
to while away they say ha I have not lost my mind I
know where it goes in the winged blue harsh
and scratchy suburban soundtrack
gloved sweaty palm and bare-headed toothy
be back soon
lock up your cat food go
to any entrance not nailed
do not disturb the outdoor flood
light the unlocked pool all
chlorine and concrete
sweet
you say how
sweet
those birds
I feel like they really get me
The Astrologers of Life
(after Rufino Tamayo’s Los astrόlogos de la vida, 1947)
We might not have reception
this far out the signal varies
depending on traffic on whether
we can find two legs to stand
on this site eight thousand years
ago a figure not unlike yourself
leaned back to take it all in
but couldn’t of course because
where to begin and then as always
end in a culmination rather
than that’s it you’ve come so far
to be here today scaled so many forms
requiring your signature entered
so many codes for wireless connection
they’ll be listening for a voice
for ours for years pinging satellites
Image Source: Rufino Tamayo’s Los Astrologos De La Vida, 1947
