Taxidermy: A Translucent Love Poem
V. 1
We are bound inside of the taxidermied falcon.
[enter poem here]
The wings shiver just before they beat.
V. 2
The taxidermist’s tools:
Bone Cutter Forceps
Magnetic Brad Pin Pusher
Horn and Bone Saw
Flush Cut Trimmers
Pinking Machine
4 in 1 Rasp File
Leather Stretcher Pliers
Basic Field Kit
Breaker Tool
Automatic Awl
Awl Needles: Curved and Straight
Ear Openers
Leather Toggles
Gooseneck Hide Stretcher
Fleshing Blade
Fish Skinning Shears
V. 3
“An exceptional bird eye at an affordable price. T1SP glass eyes are a good choice for commercial
taxidermy work with a nice rounded profile and a flat back with no wire. For recommended sizes and
colors refer to our artificial Bird Eye Color and Size Chart.”
T.E. Bunn Naturalist Norwich.
E.F. Spicer’s shop lined with deer heads.
Rowland Ward Ltd. Of Piccadilly (1848-1912)
Edward Hart Anthropomorphic taxidermy – fighting red squirrels.
Greek for arrangement of skin.
V. 4
We are twin taxidermied falcons.
I’m still on the wood block, ankles cuffed,
hunched,
one glass eye eying you.
My carcass is wood and wool but
this is still my skull,
I stand on my true legs.
(There’s talk of putting me in
a top hat at a tea party
or in the crowd at a boxing match
between two stuffed red squirrels.
Does it matter?
Only the carpet beetles can get us now.)
You’re already in your glass box, wings arched
head cocked
above a dead muskrat.
Remember live muskrats —
their warm hearts pattering madly?
The give of their ribs – wee and springy?
We are bound to the taxidermist.
We know his grunts, cinching up
His taut belly – oh, the buzz of bone saw,
the click of ear openers and the automatic awl.
Who better understands
a gooseneck hide stretcher
and fleshing blades and fish skinning shears
and bone cutter forceps than we do?
But he will never know what it is to be us.
(Oh, jealous stitching!)
He’ll never know how the wings shiver
just before they beat.
