“CASTRATO” by Annie Kim (poetry, ’09)

An excerpt from “CASTRATO” by Annie Kim (poetry, ’09), published at Four Way Review:

CASTRATO

I want to be a boy, you tell the man
who analyzes you. Free of desire.

He nods, light flashing
off his thin gold spectacles.

No one called the singing boys
castrati to their face. So evirato,
meaning one unmanned,
musico: one making music.

Boys aren’t free
of desire, of course—

Though not by ordinary means—
fingers pressing keyboard, lips
against a cold silver mouthpiece.
No, the singer’s body turned
to supple balsam, stretched
over the years until it forms
that frame beloved by engineers—
strength, endurance, range—

[…continue reading here]