The Elephant Man & Joseph Merrick

For those familiar angels, the better
of them, who have let me know them, gently,
though truly I cannot know them, I reach
in my words for the grace by which they have
withstood the burning atmosphere of this
world, knowing throughout they will land harshly,
and will not be, afterward, who they were
in the moment of flight. Now looking down
at my hands, which are repositories
for the fear I have learned to love, which bear
the brutality I cannot control,
and so remind me of myself, I see
they are dripping wet. I realize my
face is dripping onto your hands too, and
the fear our hands hold is changed as I have
been changed. Listen, you who I am gripping,
you who are undoubtedly my latest
angel: release me to my other life.

*

I turned his hipsxxxxxxand his hands

found the wallxxxxxxso fast I thought

he wasxxxxxxused to me, his head

turned to mexxxxxxthere’s a rhythm

to the memory nowxxxxxxit clicks

like old kneesxxxxxxa record finished

I go homexxxxxxstand very still

in my bedroomxxxxxxmirror, strip

my own hips turnxxxxxxmy hands

find the wallxxxxxxlike anything

stunnedxxxxxxfinds aloneness

*

At first

Joseph-called-John repeats

Thank you SIR?, xxxxxxxxxxx a great deal.

The baths doxxxxxxxxxx rid him

xxxxxx of the odor.

Yes sir. xxxxxxxxxxxx Three meals

a day delivered

xxxxxx to his room. xxxxxx xxxxxYes, sir.

A family within himself

xxxxxxof other animals,xxxxxxxxxx other names.

Yes. xxxxxxxxxxx One room. xxxxxxHe calls it

xxxxxxhome.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHOME?