Artist Walter Inglis Anderson escaped from the Mississippi State Insane Asylum
on 1 April 1939
i.
hold, he prayed, and
wrenched the sheet into a rope.
heft, and twist.
heft, and twist.
tie a knot when the fear is greatest;
loop when thinking of elegance.
bound, he dropped, and
left the second-storey room.
hang, then pause.
hang, then pause.
make a point upon the wall;
soap (ivory) against brick (red).
swift, he worked, and
outlined an arch, flared a nostril.
draw one bird.
draw two birds.
detail a plume amid the flock;
sculpt a wing in waxy relief.
far, he stretched, and
marked out one last flight.
breathe, and rest.
breathe, and rest.
slide to the freedom close below:
one less inmate come morning.
ii.
breathtaking
leave taking
taking wing
iii.
speech has failed
but
i will be here
this will be here
i will paint it here
– a gift –
– a map –
you may take it
you may paint and fly
you may be paint, embrace flying
do not
choose to
wait
until you have only soap
fly now
be flying
take flight
be flight
say you understand
