Lenna Jawdat
ODE TO THE PSOAS
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The text of the poem reads, in two columns, “Sacred and / esoteric, bio- / intelligent tissue / energetic core, stre- / tched through lacy / webbing Fascial / threads reach, grasp / nerves Deep inside / Me, you hold it all / together Supple / messenger of the / nervous system Muscle / of the soul Filet / mignon, tenderloin / of the human body / Fanned and spiral- / ing like a staircase / around the spinal / column A woven / hammock / supporting / vital and / reproductive / organs, lungs / heart, bladder, bowel / Mystery twin / of the reptilian / brain stem and / spinal cord Fanned / like cryptic wings / the beams of the / body hold up our / structures Guardian / of intuition, gut instinct / / When threatened, you / curl up like a possum / clamp down on organs / lock them up in a vault / of your own making / Let’s unlatch you, re- / lease diaphragm / and pelvic floor / with low lunge / crescents, so / we both / can rest