Gender (Rachel Perry - Lafayette, LA)

Firmer casing and straighter lines envelope the soul of a man.

His arms
poles
solid within
capped with metallic hinges.
His spine
a pillar
planted in Earth
encircled by the tank of his ribs.

A woman's peeling is more like butter; it melts into the air that surrounds her.

Her expression
penciled
eyes exposing
chin pulled neatly into place.
Her contour
thoughtful
wavering in motion
values shaded with charcoal.

A man puts his hand on a stone, feels the rhythms from within it.

His breath
steady
quick, unaffected
internal physics at work.
His heart
a clock
adjusting at moments
echoing the flow of his blood.

A woman composes her daily palette with fruit she buys in the market.

Her hair
is linen
sewn into curtains
loosely drawn to each side.
Her voice
a chime
one tone of the melody
playing upon life's ears.