Lekhny composition -03-Feb-2023

Manisha Bharti

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Lekhny composition -03-Feb-2023

This salt-stain spot marks the place where men lay down their heads, back to the bench,

and hoist nothing

that need be lifted

but some burden they've chosen

this time: more reps,

more weight, the upward shove of it leaving, collectively, this sign of where we've been: shroud-stain, negative

flashed onto the vinyl where we push something unyielding skyward,

gaining some power

at least over flesh,

which goads with desire, and terrifies with frailty. Who could say who's

added his heat to the nimbus of our intent, here where we make ourselves:

something difficult

lifted, pressed or curled, Power over beauty,

power over power!

Though there's something more

tender, beneath our vanity, our will to become objects

of desire: we sweat the mark of our presence onto the cloth.

Here is some halo

the living made together.