Faiyum Fetishist                                       Published in The Stony Thursday Book (2014)* Manchester Museum   I own this space whispers the Faiyum portrait above his exoskeleton.   Although he fails to blink, his hands tap a tune.   So ungenerous, so ungenerous the melody goes.   Tagged in a glass cabinet with other gods: God of Taxonomy, God of Embalming.   My nasal cavity bears little resemblance to this face, a rattle in a husk.   Held together with bandage and plaster harnessed to a figure of humanity.   Encaustic, faced into feeling bright-eyed serious boy.   Let me marry you this instant.