Body Electric from estuaria by Nica Celly

(These words are highly formatted in their visual form - write me for a link to the written piece <3)

Electricity touches
Wires fray
Transformer busts
Twilight arrives midday
Curtains pull
Shop closes:


Wakes in a pool of brackish water


Part 1: An Inventory at First Flash


Buzzing parts:


lung line, big toe to front crease of thigh
interior thigh crease upwards toward rib and underside of breast
outseam of upper arm, left
inseam of forearm, right
palms to webbing, finger divots
blade of left hand, wrist to pinky


Under sternum: center console appears to have been crushed


Two stroke turns: ignition good, however:


more disperses than propells
tension through thigh, pooling at flexor
good depression at hips
old wiring: not to code
mileage impressive, engine still good


Part 2: Directives


Refer to the tin of composite waters at Mouth,
Refill at Queen tide of First storm.
Roll body softly into a ball, and press to Bottom,
hold down with one palm,
listen for whale calls, and dIscern verse:
Ask and receive
Do not fear us
Solace is here
Rest.
Send a bubble to the surface when it’s time to
Surface.
Unhook chains and belts: replace as needed
Press finger to tongue
then finger to wire
Taste for:
metal,
wood,
fire,
ether.
Key and spark.


Part 3: Remember


Tune to 89.5:


This is the River Styx
And drama eats bodies, so:
Pay your own way,
learn the cunning,
and try your best.


Worn-out wires become fragments,
become fringe.
Tie them like tsisis and quipo
To pray, count, and keep.


To re-fuse fibers for a stronger stance:
Twist, and then
knot,
because?
For immediate recovery:
Keep tuned in
and turned up,
but not out.


Even if it can’t be felt to be done:
Move extremities and fascia,
And walk them to the lips’ edge.

• Spoken Word
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• Todos Santos