The parts catalogue for mass production in its infancy is a large book in leather binding, ribboned, gold- edged—all parts always in blessed motion—wheels like celestial bodies, a cosmos of axles, brakes, steering columns, chassis, and motor— of a certain image and likeness fitting together—above us, all the pulleys, conveyers, rivets, and sparks of creation— below, all-male workers, wearing priestly cotton, high-waisted, ironed, cuffed to the regulation inch—if eyes show us the soul at the factory, they hide in devotion, an industry given to goggles, downcast, as before a saint, squinting in holiness, eyelids are a final protectorate— and remembrance—father gave his all, over 40 years—he has his watch, and still he watches over us. If father takes you to the factory, don’t cross your arms in timidity: look alive, resurrection comes like a motor running.
Jan Wiezorek writes and paints in Michigan. His work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in The London Magazine, The Westchester Review, Lucky Jefferson, Abstract Magazine, Minetta Review, Talon Review, Modern Poetry Review, The Passionfruit Review, Flint Hills Review, Sparks of Calliope, The Wise Owl, Poetry Center San José, and The Orchards Poetry Journal, among others. He taught writing at St. Augustine College, Chicago, and wrote the ebook Awesome Art Projects That Spark Super Writing (Scholastic, 2011). Jan posts at janwiezorek.substack.com.
