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Artwork: Fish Portrait by Alex Nodopaka
If Wishes Were Camels
Robert Beveridge
Good morning, you angels, you bearers
of bonds. Today's lesson: phlebotomy,
prestidigitation, and the merging of them
into a delicate cranial souffle,
to be eaten only with a brain hook.
They say the Lord cooks in mysterious
ways, can find dozens of uses
for brine shrimp, durian, pigs' fins
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Blind
Robert Beveridge
The painting
consists of men, shackled
to one another only
with hands. Knuckles white,
fingers clenched
against shoulders, sides,
belts, a procession that stumbles
and trips its way
to the canvas edge,
the rough suggestion of quicksand.
At the top of the painting,
in the distance, a leg
and the bottom quarter
of a red-gold throne.
A hand dangles, eyepatch
just above the ground.
Rare is the picture that laughs
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The Thing with Feathers
Robert Beveridge
It's outside your little hut
moves around, peers
in the windows
almost taunts
behind it a ring
of old friends, jilted lovers
a few fraternity brothers
from your college days
you greased the door handle
and stocked up on dry goods
before you moved in
now you and the beast
fight a war of attrition
with the spectators
forever in attendance
