for Nick Johnson

your face – once pale white
on the pillow as are your bones now
long exanimate – from the ride, the pang, the desire

ex-animate – the mighty
ex-animate – the player
ex-animate – the clowns

ex-animate – the city itself
ex-animate – firebombs and airwaves
ex-animate – the contestants
ex-animate – prayer

your face again – colors vibrant and unforeseen –
animates all flesh – the famous, the dressed up, the natural fool,
in a whorl of recall