after Nanni Balestrini
1.
the neck as axis of longing magnitudes of malaise coalesce
the wrist as juncture thought passes fingers and keys
according to intelligence derived from some isolated actors
polycarbonate riot shield
throw buckets of paint red paint
reminder of temporary detention
the breath a consolidation
tires roll down streets filled with rats
the always improvisational gaze from which reciprocity emerges
demonstrating an affinity for
their snares their love of increment
2.
light as circumscribed under the auspices of homeland
logical fallacy of reactionary facsimile
weather-induced intercourse
and rain was falling directly from the sun
an act of listening in which the spinal cord is transplanted into sound
in the interest of defenestration
the subway penetrates the street
shop windows covered with plywood covered with red paint
put on a raincoat you once wore the cuffs still Velcroed tight
3.
the ear as sonic frame an acoustic epistemology
skyscrapers assault the sky
in the interest of algorithmic governmentality
paddy wagons all down the block
howling hissing light
crash scooter into knee
throw buckets of paint red paint
according to strictures designed to extinguish
projectiles echo narrow street
climb onto traffic lights cut the wires cut the lights
4.
we don’t intend to roll over and play the ostrich
the threat of prison imprisons
and rain was falling directly from the sun
liquor store on fire sparks follow the power lines
according to that which incites esophageal stricture
according to that which dilates
the aperture of collective uncertainty
pigeon perched on air conditioner
everything has been white for weeks
on this occasion the bipartisan imperialist consensus
on this occasion
5.
lungs expand movement of the possible
like wood made of glass
the grapevine can’t be wiretapped
whereas the bifurcation of life and life
skyscrapers assault the sky
the weaponization of fingerprint
clouds fill with logic until they can hold no more fragile beams
of thought pulled skyward
if a new vocality can exist
under the auspice of daffodil
6.
to hallucinate not just a new word but a new world
liquor store on fire sparks follow the power lines
the hard part is finding the next note
after you play one another must follow
shop windows covered with plywood covered with red paint
heard that precincts must burn like fields to reinvigorate the soil
we aim to dance upon dismantlement
to strike to send forth roots to become fixed in the earth
7.
making love under sodium lamps
lightning on the horizon in the lightning rods
we don’t sit we don’t kneel
howling hissing light
put on a raincoat you once wore the cuffs still Velcroed tight
as circumscribed under the auspices of homeland
we hear music in the downpour
like waves crashing on a kettle drum
but the floodlights have set our eyes to aching
inside me rises the salt
the deaf anger you awakened a world that isn’t mine
an act of listening in which the spinal cord is transplanted into sound
according to that which dilates the aperture of collective uncertainty
paddy wagons all down the block
the ear as sonic frame an acoustic epistemology
a soundscape opens in the sky
Emmett Lewis is a poet living in Queens, New York. His work is forthcoming or has appeared in Chicago Review, Tagvverk, fieldnotes, Works & Days, berlin lit, HAD and elsewhere.