Chris Jackson

The Sixteenth Box Man

Joseph Cornell, Object (Hotel Theatricals by the Grandson of Monsieur Phot Sunday Afternoons), 1940
I spasm in my hand a little guilty then I
give you four men leaning backwards palms pasted
over their hearts’ cavities then four men falling
backwards one almost touching his gun then
four men bent forwards to touch toes one
like a runner they’ve soft bums then three
men lead ballerinas nobody moving a cumulative
poison obtained by roasting quarantine
this is death quarantine why always
death the angel wrestling Jacob yes
if art puts death in the box the fourth
fourth man taken away by art yes
you see the face of God you’ll live.

 

Issue #1