Metamorphosis Beatbox

by Michael Dickman [Guest Contributor]

And then
there are bodies
that turn into other
bodies

We are like that

Hair and fingernails still growing long after our deaths becoming trees
streetlights trees

Leaves

Shit in the ground
Some blood down
in it

Maybe you are made of money and burn in the dark

Do you burn in the dark?

Green lights!

Green lights!

* * *

And then
there is money
that turns into other
money

We are like that

Turning gold silver brass and iron into every needle falling from a pine tree
at the same time

Bling bling

A needle
in a needle
stack

If you do not change then change will be brought out of you in spoonfuls

A spoonful weighs a ton

Ready or not

Here it come

* * *

And then
there are waves
that turn into other
waves

We are like that

Flooding every flower drowning our loved ones until we’re swimming
around inside them

The butterfly cannonball

Let’s all do
the jackknife and see
what happens

The water laps around our feet no matter what we do

We do swim through bodies

Belly up

A plague of dead frogs

Born in Portland, Oregon, Michael Dickman broke into the consciousness of the larger poetic community with his stunning debut collection, The End of the West. His second collection, Flies, was awarded the James Laughlin Award in 2010. His poems frequently appear in The New Yorker as well as other prominent magazines and journals. We are honored to present this new poem.