“Ode to Joy” empties her

in repeated

counts of eight

joy-ful joy-ful

we a-dore thee

each verse

a mantra

a meter

measuring how long

to hold a head stand

or the weight

she dangles

to stretch a plated elbow

a screen

a decoy

masking how high

to rate pain

or the long red wrinkle

she kneads

to soften a scarred knob

a disguise

an orb spider

decorating a

figurative web

adding ornaments

to warn predators

and attract prey.