“alarmingly humanoid sheep,” by Chloe Martinez (Poetry ’09)

Chloe Martinez, a 2009 poetry alum, was recently featured in Radar, Boulevard, On the Seawall, and Black Warrior Review. Read an excerpt of Martinez’ poem “alarmingly humanoid sheep” below:

alarmingly humanoid sheep

[Ghent Altarpiece, Hubert and Jan van Eyck, 15th c.]

The mystic lamb is looking at you. His eyes
face you as human eyes do, and he stands with a cheerful

blood-spurt coming from his chest. Something of a dance
in his four cloven feet. Golden light-rays all around his head.

Is there wind? The angels’ wings are held lightly behind them
like expensive accessories. The mystic lamb says, hey,

says, all eyes on me. He’s right. Right at the center. He’s
talking to you. Are you afraid? he asks, reading your mind.

Read this poem in its entirety, as well as two others, here: https://www.radarpoetry.com/issue-31-toc