Two Men Trading Dance Movements
at Tabby’s Blues Box and
Heritage Hall, Baton Rouge

         Whatever is expressive 
about clumsiness (bad knees), 
        disproportion (potbelly, 
putto hands), untaught 
        self-portraiture, 
wall-hugging, cold 
        feet, or stillness—
chilled into models—
        painters must jar 
to life, 
          we may like this 
        more, seeing 
how these men start from an uncandescent 
        corner by the entry door 
(not at the back 
        by the restrooms’ 
mussed, rampageous 
        tulip colors) 
and match up: two men, 
        simply, by image, 
but impulse-different, nerve-distinct.