Improv 1, Week 12

The first improv for this week comes from Jillian Weise's "Notes on the Body (2)."

Notes on the Body (2)

They call me patient. They pull
with pliers and plug with gauze.

In the pre-operation room, an intern
touches my leg, refers to tibie, fibula…

Now in the bedroom, I stretch over
him, but it is only night, mattress, plaster

ceiling, a stack of mail on the dresser, a woman
with one leg, a song from camp:

Way up in the sky, the little birds fly…
Someone unbuttons her shirt.

Gives her a thin sheet for hiding.
She’s thinking of white space, tunnels,

a body that waits for her on a coat hanger.


In the piece above, there is the double meaning of a lover and a patient in the piece. I wanted to push the boundaries a little bit further in my poem. I sprinboarded from chainging the word 'patient' into 'miko,' which is the Japanese term for priestess. The end result was a rather forbidden piece of a priestess who is also a lover. However, by definition, priestess are supposed to be pure and forbidden from partaking in such acts. As a result, I rather liked how the piece turned out. I also enjoyed playing with elements of color to enhance some of the imagery.

Notes on the Miko (1)

They call me miko. They crawl
on silk knees with scabs and blood.

Under the canopy of white night, a husband
touches my breast, pleading for one taste, breath…

Now in the pulpit, I bow over
him, but it is only violet fire, wick, waxy

promises, a decrepit flame benath the mosaic, a cross
with one leg, a unknown ancient song:

I came as I was; weary, sound and sad…
Someone’s tears speak like a child.

You’ll hear her tale through her blood.
She is thinking of red clouds, white caverns,

A soul that waits to be sacrificed.