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Legless Boy Climbing in and out of Chair
- University of Iowa Press
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.:. Legless Boy Climbing in and out of Chair Plate 538, Animal Locomotion 56 It seems a trick of lighting, his legs lost only in shadow, not in fact. A stunt, like a solar eclipse or Jesus missing from the tomb. Astonishing, but you know they'll be back. In fact, they won't. Imagine the nights he can't sleep, the sheet that lies flat just beyond his fingertips: fields of snow stretching trackless before him, the fair girls he will never have. On the street he spies their hips swinging and remembers running toward the freight car-the leap that falls short by inches. He catches hold with his hands, swings gracefully under the great iron wheels that barely leave the track. He's left staring across the rail at his legs. His blood flows before him. His brother begins to scream like a steam whistle. Now his mother says The good Lord moves in mysterious ways. Mr. Muybridge wants to take your picture. See what a lucky, lucky boy you are! On his face you see nothing but bitter determination. There's no trick to this. ...