Art Hands
for Holly Parotti

in need of someone
to manage my blows

I throw a lot of blows
want to think only
of blows I throw,
of where they land
of the opponent falling,
skull hitting the road

Hemingway’s officer
in Italy, in Across The River
and Into the Trees,
after two punches thrown,
walked away quickly
not wanting to hear
his victim’s head
hit the pavement

want someone to manage my blows,
just want to throw them,
upon my toes dancing
like Cassius Clay


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2007
7:46 p.m. 04.12.07