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
