My double doubled self peers haunted,
spirits surrounding my font undaunted
the paint sags languidly dry
while beetle-birds in my hair nest cry
A song for the crickets in the early morn
From paint brushes a creature born
socks of sinew bone and fat
clumping twisted over a soggy vat
of entrails, thoughts and high-minded cocks
My monkish calling and your lock of locks

(Sara Chong)

***

This poem was first published in One Imperative — ‘Vanity’ which can be found at http://www.oneimperative.com/wp-content/uploads/OI-vanity-small.pdf

[The featured image — ‘TetracelimAmalgamation’ by Michael Kearney — can also be found in the same issue]