Think of a crowd gathering for an execution
like an explosion playing slowly in reverse,
listen to it inhaling.
Think of how she must look, the sentenced,
hands bound, chin set, stone gaze cast somewhere
indefinite on the horizon beyond gunmetal waves,
where a ship may be disappearing,
its sails filled with chilled wind, waving goodbye
beneath an overcast sky, bored and impassive.
Think of the blade, blood-stained and worn
impatiently hanging, suddenly revealed
as the child’s scapula.
It is quiet for a moment. Then it sighs, slices
comes to a sudden wooden stop–
mortal dam unstopped, her blood reaches short for the sea.
Now the people passionately cheer
eyes alight, fires in smoldering faces,
squeaking and gibbering into the midday.
Think of someone on bent knees in an empty church
hands held in supplication, quivering lips mumbling desperate prayers;
think of him as on a precipice, permanently.
the sieve and the sand 
I had just read Bishops poem last week, and as I’m reading this, I’m thinking why does this feel so… familiar. Then cue the tag.
That was a great write though, absolutely loved the description.
Oh wow.
bh, were you reading it for a class?
Yes indeed. Had to do the same thing actually (not with Little Excercise), but might post it shortly. Seein’ it in the near future, “Sieve poets celebrate replacement/imitation week.” Mayhap we’ll get everybody doing it.
Unrelated: I was speaking with Kat earlier today, and she was discussing your musical compositions concerning Sky and the rug – I’m thinking you should definitely post those here as well. They’re the perfect Sieve quality.
not that i have the inside track as the other guys here, but I thought it was very good. Not sure what the reference to an original is all about. But, whatever this was born from, you served it well.
nora RC here is a *CENSORED* grad student… he has more assignments as inspiration than he can probably stand…
the tags state the reference if youre interested: elizabeth bishop, imitation – title little exercise)