“Among a murder of mannequins/the guilty can’t be picked out of a lineup.”
If mannequins could, they would dream
of goosebumps, sweat dripping
evaporating, and the blush
of sex, dilated pupils, engorged vessels.
They feel no shame, modesty. Need no
airbrushing, black tape, blurring.
Cold exhibitionists, they are posed
in repose, nakedness on full display,
shoulders slouched and pelvises arched
by others who ask no consent.
Among a murder of mannequins
the guilty can’t be picked out of a lineup.
There are no poker tells.
Also, no cravings
for dermal fillers or botulinum toxin
since they are blessed with ageless
complexion, rather than the thousand
tabloid cuts inflicted on live models.
David A. Goodrum is the author of the collection Vitals and Other Signs of Life, which was released with The Poetry Box, and the chapbook Sparse Poetica, which was released with Audience Askew. Recent and upcoming publications include Tar River Poetry, Gyroscope, San Antonio Review, Triggerfish Critical Review, I-70 Review, Cirque Journal, SHARK REEF Literary Magazine, Banyan Review, Tampa Review, among others. Born and educated in Indiana, David now lives in Corvallis, Oregon.
