Hot Blood Underground

By: Ayah Abdul-Rauf

He is anchored to the cold room’s center

By metallic, unused fetters

Reluctance is his parapet and it’s likely to collapse

He lies amidst rusted traps

He is the first catch.

His thoughts are connected by sloppy toy seams

The reports about him are printed in reams

His limbs are connected by sloppy toy seams. Sometimes he comes undone.

Sometimes he comes undone.

Sometimes, he comes: undone.