- |: hyphenation: ma-nu-te-ne-re
ma-nu: I look at my hand and move my fingers. the skin around my knuckles thins out, becomes white
manu tenere, whole body instant through (by) hand
hand supporting (another) body
learn to pronounce; enunciate with me:
TE-NE-RE: two
hold fast, tight
I test my own language, ţinere1
tsssssssssssssssssssssssss: tongue pressed onto the back of my teeth, letting the air out,
sound to keep for an exhalation.
Lungs, empty briefly. Only for a short time, oxygen to be replenished and organ’s form to be conserved. unlettered, peripheral, passive, tedious, feminine, monotonousall incarnations a succession of repetitive actions
breathe, salivate, spit, scrub, patch, pump, tighten, fold, suture, mend, nourish, ground- fibric fibers, skin cells, soil on
shelves, in corners, old wax-crusted altars
fossils, mines, heirlooms, and
counterfeit meritocracies
accumulation of dust in every bit of the crevices – through lack of upkeep.
Rag brushing through the opaque matter, through corners; everything it touches, now deliberate - So, take a cotton cloth. Something worn out. Pinch one edge with a pair of scissors. Make a small cut, just enough to start a tear, then pull firmly. Scrunch the fabric in your hands, stretching it until it begins to rip down the center. Keep pulling until it splits. Repeat.
Depending on the cloth’s length, you might end up with a handful of smaller pieces, rough around the edges.
Spread the pieces out. Choose one rag from the pile, one that feels right in your hand. Press it against the surface you want to clean; run it over countertops, windowsills, baseboards, edges, anything that gathers dust. Feel the slight resistance as it picks up particles. Watch it darken, soaking everything in.
Once the surface is cleaned and the cloth is visibly stained, stop. Hold it up briefly, to inspect, notice what’s clinging to the fabric. When you’re done, discard the rag, or set it aside if it can be used again. - the rag paint splattered, with a pungent smell of industrial vaseline, pain relief
patches (menthol) and
more material, stretchy, to keep warm and unscathed wrapped around,
covering skin overalls for winter and other safety equipment.
Pull the hidden zipper with a sound fluorescent vest,
a shield, a harness and some gloves;
dispensable collar: affordable, but most needed. - the rag to salve the gear: drops, spray or oil paraffin on the joint,
glutinous creak
to be quieted.
To know how to change the faucet, the fill valve, any occasional adjustment to prevent leaking
To fasten the screw,
to tie some wire around.
- Open the window, the steam – excess moisture condensing on cold surfaces,
any dampness mold would like the mirror
to wipe
to bleach
the rag. Squeeze the water out of the material:
Quick Wash, Delicates,
Rinse and Spin (trepidation).
Bicarbonate of soda for stains and acid reflux, a pile of folded clothes, aired out pillows,
mothballs rolling to the corner. - Marigold cream on the ulcer, some gauze
foot soles carrying you every day, cracking, needing a tincture,
Exfoliating socks.
The callused hand combing through hair (someone to tie your shoe laces and forget their own). - helmet and apron attached and discounted,
purée, dice, knead: from the heel of your palm pressing.
Sink scrubbed, packed lunch, set table, few marks on the freshly mopped floor.
carapace = thermos
cheesecloth, soap, syrup to be boiled.
- Turn the knob on, pour out the milk. Let it flow over.
- Because,
notall<<rules>>areasintelligibleasonsundaysitisnotallowedtothrowglassinthedesignatedcontainerflattencardboardboxesstandontherightwalkontheleftreportequipmentmalfunctionsimmediatelymaycausedrowsinessdonotcrushorchewgetdressedinthelockerroomnomorethan15minutesbeforeyourshiftstartspersonalphonesmustbeonsilentduringcaregivinghours - Latch the door (now loose) – you press it in place; we both try.
A draft curls through the gap, sharp. A rag, a towel stuffed in between, wedged in deep won’t
hold for long.
So, this time around: we bite with our deciduous teeth.
m. :|
- keeping ↩︎