spent the day

painting a self-portrait

–

collected materials

arranged the studio

mixed the paints and

set to work

–

didn’t use a mirror

instead I

painted

what I saw

–

using broad strokes

let the colors blend

into each other

like to smear them

see

how they bleed through

–

layer it real nice

until it looks like

it might just peel off

–

apply the palette knife

ease through like

warm butter

reveal what’s

underneath

–

douse it in paint thinner

watch it run

into the carpet

flowing

muddy brown and

sickly sage

turpentine scent

–

next

throw dirt and rocks and

human hair then

see what sticks

–

speckle it in rust flakes

prick a finger

sign it in blood

underline it in shit

endorsed with piss

–

hang it from

a nail in the gallery

behind violet

velvet rope

cordon

–

behold

the majesty

of the formless self

cracking in an empty room