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Devotion: Futurismo
- Tikkun
- Duke University Press
- Volume 26, Number 2, Spring 2011
- p. 47
- Article
- Additional Information
S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 W W W. T I K K U N . O R G T I K K U N 47 POETRY DEVOTION: FUTURISMO Wecaredlessaboutthethingsandmoreaboutthesmearsandblurs andfluxingstuff. Wehatedthedepictionofhistoryandyesterday’s devotions. WeputongogglesandspedpastGodandtheseductive puncturesintheskinofhisson. Weputwingsoneverything– gluedfeatherstoourankles,flew,ifyouclosedyoureyes andthoughtofbeautyasanungainlyfillythatcanteredandnickered asitstoodstill. Weenteredthefuturebackwards,notaliens,notrobots, morelikeworkerswithdispensableshovelsrisingintotheblasted new/oldcountry,becomingthebossesofourselves,firingourselves, grumblingaboutthework. Weconfusedbeautywithvelocity, airplaneswithauras,becausewhat’samovingobjectbutabreed ofbeingspreadacrosstheretina,numina,redsandyellows, thepresentrippedanddifficultandeverything’saspaceship. Andwhataboutthefutureofthesoftmachine? Señorgetstired. Señorleaksfromhisgaskets,needsnewbearingsandshocks, beautyiskillinghim. Señorstaysawakeallnightasthewind throwsitslanguageagainstthewindowlikeablindbirdbody. Akissshouldbelikethis. Inthemorningthesticky,catalyticsmell ofhotpatchandpleasformercy. Theflightsofpigeons,theentrails ofroadkillmeanmycountrywillsufferandmurmurandshit andgoblind. Thebeautifulobliteratingsnowswilldriftandmelt andfreezeandravishthesurfaceandlightwillglazethetrash– themostmeagerskinmademagnificent. Beauty’sneither herenortherebutdeadlyandSeñor’sashesstillnotscattered butcarriedtwicetonewcities,X-rayedandcheckedthroughairports. “Organs?” “No,ashes.” Theformalfeelingworksbackwards fromlettinggotostuportogreatpain. Señorwantsafuture, wantsasmearofviolenceorcolor,wantsabeholder toseehimlikeatulipbulbsunkwithbonemealandwintered andunfurledcomespringlikeapictureofthefloatingworld. Señor,onwhatthingswillwestickourkisses? Ithink halfwaybetweenawheelbarrowofdirtandafacsimilemachine, isbeauty. Ithinkit’sahorsethatmovesbetweentheskinandtheunseen. —BruceSmith© 2010 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. ...