He sold his bag and tongs,
went to pieces. A man's got to be able
to bring his wife something.
I us
M Y M E N T O R S
My rabbi has a silver buddha,
my priest has a jade talisman.
My doctor sees a marvellous omen
in our prolonged Indian summer.
My rabbi, my priest stole their trinkets
from shelves in the holy of holies.
The trinkets cannot be eaten.
They wonder what to do with them.
My doctor is happy as a pig
although he is dying of exposure.
He has finished his big book
on the phallus as a phallic symbol.
My zen master is a grand old fool.
I caught him worshipping me yesterday,
so I made him stand in a foul corner
with my rabbi, my priest, and my doctor.
u6 1
H E I R L O O M
The torture scene developed under a glass bell
such as might protect an expensive clock.
I almost expected a chime to sound
as the tongs were applied
and the body jerked and fainted calm.
All the people were tiny and rosy-cheeked
and if I could have heard a cry of triumph or pain
it would have been tiny as the mouth that made it
or one single note of a music box.
The drama bell was mounted
like a gigantic baroque pearl
on a wedding ring or brooch or locket.
I know you feel naked, little darling.
I know you hate living in the country
and can't wait until the shiny magazines
come every week and every month.
Look through your grandmother's house again.
There is an heirloom somewhere.
I 1 17
T H E P R O J E C T
Evidently they need a lot of blood for these tests. I let
them take all they wanted. The hospital was cool and its
atmosphere of order encouraged me to persist in my own
projects.
I always wanted to set fire to your houses. I've been in
them. Through the front doors and the back. I'd like to see
them burn slowly so I could visit many and peek in the
falling windows. I'd like to see what happens to those white
carpets you pretended to be so careless about. I'd like to
see a white telephone melting.
We don't want to trap too many inside because the streets
have got to be packed with your poor bodies screaming back
and forth. I'll be comforting. Oh dear, pyjama flannel seared
right on to the flesh. Let me pull it off.
It seems to me they took too much blood. Probably selling
it on the side. The little man's white frock was smeared
with blood. Little men like that keep company with blood.
See them in abattoirs and assisting in human experiments.
-When did you last expose yourself?
-Sunday morning for a big crowd in the lobby of the
Queen Elizabeth.
-Funny. You know what I mean.
-Expose myself to what?
-A woman.
-Ah.
I narrowed my eyes and whispered in his yellow ear.
-You better bring her in too.
-And it's still free?
Of course it was still free. Not counting the extra blood
they stole. Prevent my disease from capturing the entire city.
Help this man. Give him all possible Judea-Christian help.
Fire would be best. I admit that. Tie firebrands between
l iS I
the foxes and chase them through your little gardens. A rosy
sky would improve the view from anywhere. It would be a
mercy. Oh, to see the roofs devoured and the beautiful old
level of land rising again.
The factory where I work isn't far from the hospital. Same
architect as a matter of fact and the similarities don't end
there. It's easier to get away with lying down in the hospital.
However we have our comforts in the factory.
The foreman winked at me when I went back to my
machine. He loved his abundant nature. Me new at the job
and he'd actually given me time off. I really enjoy the
generosity of slaves. He came over to inspect my work.
-But this won't do at all.
-No?
-The union said you were an experienced operator.
-1 am. I am.
-This is no seam.
-Now that you mention it.
-Look here.
He took a fresh trouser and pushed in beside me on the
bench. He was anxious to demonstrate the only skill he
owned. He arranged the pieces under the needle. When he
was halfway down the leg and doing very nicely I brought
my foot down on the pedal beside his. The unexpected
acceleration sucked his fingers under the needle.
Another comfort is the Stock Room.
It is large and dark and filled with bundles and rolls of
material.
-But shouldn't you be working?
-No, Mary, I shouldn't.
-Won't Sam miss you?
-You see he's in the hospital. Accident.
Mary runs the Cafeteria and the Boss exposes himself to
her
