Seconds in a Momentary Science
by Kristina Martinez
Another breath, deeper, undo these
buttons to fit the stethoscope,
calipers, forceps,
deeper, the cuff tight
enough, systole and diastole,
formaldehyde, ether,
give me a fist,
hypertonic solution,
insect drawer, mollusk drawer,
jacket of plasma, centrifuge,
keratin, carbon, tentacles
lick the aquarium wall,
mercury, hemoglobin, this is a small
needle, microscopic,
open your mouth,
pace yourself for a
quick analysis, bismuth and tin,
radio telemetry, grab onto the lab coat,
swab of iodine, face against the fish tank,
take it inside, incalculable,
urchin and human, label the
veterbrae, slide of capillaries,
what do we have here, five steps to an
experiment, everything
you dare to know, pressure and rhythm,
zinc and want.
