October 23rd, 2012
William Virgil Davis
THE FAMILY
after the painting by Egon Schiele
Only the child,
between his mother’s massive legs,
is clothed.
They both look off
to the right
at something out of sight.
The father, above
and behind, his huge limbs
framing them,
stares—wide-eyed
and proud—directly
at you.
Nothing in the background matters.
–from Rattle #22, Winter 2004
I like a massive last line.