A Printed Portrait

The portrait appears on the plate,
unique
when ink is fresh
and brayer new.
Early discovery reveals
sharp lines in black-
the slick impression of you.

With the second pull,
unimaginable
details seep
from the void
as dark eyes stare back.
This image is not
what I expected.

The printer’s hands are
tainted
as paper is wrenched
from the block.
Pieces go missing:
an ear, the nose,
or the heart.

The paper now exposed-
Flat
with deckle edges
chewed by a grinder.
You will look handsome here,
in the post office gallery
of other killers.