As Corpse Loosened, bare, profusely female,
_ _the pulse in my thigh
_ _unthreaded—
As Hair Clear of furies, of flowers,
_ _the shade of dry paste
As Skull Fissured:
_ _an unlit chandelier
As Dirt The ants sift through
_ _and soften
_ _And with no fingertips, imagine
As Dust You can hang the air on me
Mary Szybist received her BA and MT from the University of Virginia and later attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was a Teaching-Writing Fellow. Her first book, Granted, was published by Alice James Books in 2003 and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. She teaches at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. (updated 1/2007)