Krista Speicher Sarraf
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BODY
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: This poem is laid out in two vertical columns. In the left column, the poem lists items removed from their body (a mole, a wisdom tooth, an IUD, hair, socks, a voice, a hang nail). To the immediate right of each line are parentheses ( ). In the far right column, items that have been removed are listed in a lighter gray font, and parentheses appear to the right of each item. The list then moves into a question: “What can you live without?” The poet then lists items that are still in the body, such as breasts and a feeling under the chest that wills to disappear. The poem ends in lighter gray font with the words “don’t disappear” (for now). The poem reads “ remove mole from leg (mole) / remove one wisdom tooth (wisdom tooth) / iud (iud) / in out grip / remove hair, legs (hair, legs) / remove coat, socks / remove hat, voice, head, earrings, hangnail (voice, hangnail) / what can you live without / flesh in flesh, floating in jars / how body goes on with so little / is still here. breasts still here (for now) / something under my chest / that will(s to) disappear / how to care / don’t disappear / for a.”