Holly Day

Plate 24

He stands defiant, face turned toward the sun, as if
denying he no longer wears a skin, that only a thin sheaf
of translucent membrane and piano-wire ligaments are keeping
his muscles and organs from slipping free

to the ground. He leans forward as if poised
to run, to flee from the scene of his eventual
disassemblage, from the medical students lurking somewhere beyond
the edge of the page, pencils poised

to take more notes.

Holly Day has taught writing classes at the Loft Literary Center in Minnesota since 2000. Her published books include Music Theory for Dummies, Music Composition for Dummies, Guitar All-in-One for Dummies, Piano All-in-One for Dummies, Walking Twin Cities, Insider's Guide to the Twin Cities, Nordeast Minneapolis: A History, and The Book Of, while her poetry has recently appeared in New Ohio Review, SLAB, and Gargoyle. Her newest poetry book, Ugly Girl, just came out from Shoe Music Press.