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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 10×10 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.