Mary Jo Bang

D H

Definitely

What is desire
But the hardwire argument given
To the mind’ s unstoppable mouth.

Inside the braincase, it’ s I
Want that fills every blank. And then the hand
Reaches for the pleasure

The plastic snake offers. Someone says, Yes,
It will all be fine in some future soon.
Definitely. I’ ve conjured a body

In the chair before me. Be yourself, I tell it.
Here memory makes you
Unchangeable: that shirt, those summer pants.

That beautiful face.
That tragic beautiful mind.
That mind’ s ravenous mouth