Michael Whalen


PROVISIONAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY


like i'm an aardvark on the bra strap of anarchy, a wombat, some ridiculous horse, a camel w/ two heads


like it's wednesday, or in a noose, or the store's run out of ice cream


like an anthrax bodega, a packed synapse, a hydrogen nerve


like paralysis, sepia, or a dog w/ worms







"BAD OMENS ARE MY FAVORITE METAPHORS,


such as night", he said,


"or a cloud before breakfast,


hovering over


the river that many


believe is an image


of leaves' torn shadows


which takes the shape


of a short boat


immediately after


the rain brings nothing


but noise and cool


aluminum towards


the other shore,


a short passage


representing resolve


and the names of those


who will suffer if the doors'


and the courtyards' faded


hue should happen


to protrude", he said,


"in shapes difficult


to place but resembling


swallows and mulch


and, briefly,


gallons of yellow


gone orange and green."









Lisa Jarnot / melissa christine goodrum / L. Sze / Michael Whalen / Matt Reeck / Drew Baughman / Napoleon Id / Britni Jackson / Nicole Steinberg / Kelly Matthews / V.L. Bond / Ed Go / Katy Resch / Chip Livingston