And God said, “Let us make man
in our image, according to our likeness.”
—Genesis 1:26
in our image, according to our likeness.”
—Genesis 1:26
Keep still, I beg my body double.
How can I paint with you
bouncing around?
How can I paint with you
bouncing around?
He flashes my smile,
frowns my frown,
then wanders off
to set fire to the kitchen.
frowns my frown,
then wanders off
to set fire to the kitchen.
✶
So I begin with background:
a swingset, a palace.
I paint the first
cloud that pops
in my head.
a swingset, a palace.
I paint the first
cloud that pops
in my head.
Through it all,
I feel I am dying,
I feel like dying
is what I’ve become.
I feel I am dying,
I feel like dying
is what I’ve become.
✶
When I step back,
it isn’t half bad—
the sun is sunny,
chain-links link up—I’ve managed
it isn’t half bad—
the sun is sunny,
chain-links link up—I’ve managed
to make things
nearly as they are
but for that void of a center,
that mountain of snow.
nearly as they are
but for that void of a center,
that mountain of snow.
✶
Yes? I answer,
and swear my double
is nowhere to be found.
and swear my double
is nowhere to be found.
He has shattered the mirror,
stolen my leftovers,
and left this note
on the counter by the sink:
stolen my leftovers,
and left this note
on the counter by the sink:
Forgive me. I despise you.
It looks just unlike us.