York's "Sensitivity," found on page 9 of Persons Unknown.
- An interest in the mouth/repertory area: “fold the sound of breath,” “bleeding throat,” “tongue’s last epileptic flutter,” mention of a microphone, maybe; “cough” of strings, “the breath is gone,” “the wood hums.” In particular, perhaps, associating these human-repertory functions/body parts with instruments.
- In addition, a dismantling of the body: the above mentioned throat and tongue could be added to a list that includes fingers.
- Recording: both the recording of sound and the story being written for the Times.-This may be obvious and necessary in this kind of a poem, but: harming a body. We have bruise, bleeding throat, and scars. None of these are in reference to an actual body.
- Again, maybe obvious in a poem that focuses on instruments and sound, but: an emphasis on things being heard. A “whisper,” “say this again,” “only the drinks are listening,” “they cannot hear/how the rivers heal their quiet,” “catch each clap/each note that falls.” I think these can be separated from the other mentions of sound, which are primarily about the actual sounds of mentioned instruments.
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