body above

Yes, it is
one weird mystery
how a great good thing
- by elevation
in importance to above all
other great goods - is diminished
in state and neighborhood.

The physical aspect of us

is demeaned by being enthroned. Bizarre!
It makes sense. Whenever we disparage five parts
of what's best, we bring down the value
of good itself. Of everything blessed,
in our eyes at least.

And so the sixth part
we’d venerate (some try,
for sure) we find
has actually been bled
of its good. Reduced
in state. If we wish

to get it back,
we can only do it
by letting belittled good rise
a little bit more, stretch out
back to its natural height
and depth. Then

the physical again
becomes sublime, restored
to glorious highs, deep breaths.
It cannot live,

you see

chopped off at the root, cut up
into trunk and limb and crown, and set
on immortal pedestal, for a bet.
Life can imitate art - but
it can't live it down. No,
life cannot live

reduced to art.