Osman - Public Figures

Public Figures

Wesleyan Poetry

Wesleyan University Press

Middletown CT 06459

www.wesleyan.edu/wespress

2012 Jena Osman

All rights reserved

Manufactured in the United States of America

Designed & typeset by Sara Rutan in Warnock Pro

Wesleyan University Press is a member of the Green Press Initiative.

The paper used in this book meets their minimum requirement for recycled paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Osman, Jena

Public figures / by Jena Osman.

p. cm.(Wesleyan poetry)

ISBN 978-0-8195-7311-7 (cloth: alk. paper)ISBN 978-0-8195-7312-4 (ebook) I. Title.

PS3565.S6P83 2012

811.54dc23

2012012530

5 4 3 2 1

Monuments today should do what we all
have to do, make more of an effort! Anybody
can stand quietly by the side of the road and
allow glances to be bestowed on him; these
days we can demand more of monuments.

ROBERT MUSIL, MONUMENTS

There are things
We live among and to see them
Is to know ourselves

GEORGE OPPEN, OF BEING NUMEROUS

Public Figures

Contents

How did it occur?

Was it this:

One day, quite some time ago, I happened on a photograph of Napoleons youngest brother, Jerome, taken in 1852. And I realized then, with an amazement I have not been able to lessen since: I am looking at eyes that looked at the Emperor.

ROLAND BARTHES, CAMERA LUCIDA

Or was it this:

If you could see what Ive seen with your eyes

ROY BATTY, BLADE RUNNER

Or was it this:

Pausing before an 18th-century church cemetery you look through the locked gate. There, on a small hill, is a life-sized statue of the Virgin Mary. Her gaze rests on an enormous red and white banner for an athletic club franchise across the street.

The idea occurred:

Photograph the figurative statues that populate your city. Then bring the camera to their eyes (find a way) and shoot their points of view. What does such a figure see?

To see the sigh of sighted stone you activate the idea.

You find a way, jerry-rig an apparatus made from a mop handle, a disposable camera with a timer, some velcro tape.

Out in the field, you observe and take notes. You set the timer and pull the pin.

Erected in 1884 and located on the north side of Philadelphias City Hall, this statue of Major John Fulton Reynolds was the citys first equestrian statue and first public monument in honor of a Civil War soldier. Reynolds was from Lancaster, killed at Gettysburg, and his nickname was Old Common Sense.

possible new target approaching target one building

designate new target target five pilot copies sensor

And here is what hes looking at:

Reynolds was very well respected, but his career had few successes. For instance, once after two long days of battle, he fell asleep under a tree and was taken prisoner for six weeks. Was that tree like this tree? Is Reynolds being forced to look at an emblem of what was perhaps his greatest embarrassment? Youd like to get back in the air.

copies white pickup arrived in front of target building

pilot copy two passengers including target five have

Next to Reynolds is another Civil War soldier, General George McClellan. McClellan was considered a good organizer, but not a particularly good general. He had a variety of nicknames, such as The Young Napoleon, Mac the Unready, andbecause of his reluctance to attackThe Little Corporal of Unsought Fields.

entered the building from the white pickup confirmed

target in building copy sensor confirms if possible

He looks out and sees:

You yourself are a patch-wearer; you are committed to your job.

keep eyes on building and pickup building has the

priority pilot mc, in order to do that I need tail 107 to

Most figurative sculptures are clustered along the river drive that is part of Frederick Law Olmsteds Fairmount Park. From their pedestals they have lovely static views of the river and trees.

They loom above you. You map out a rescue plan.

come off its current target get permission for 107 to

come south copy and censor leave the bridge locked

When you are out there with the camera apparatus, it takes passersby a minute to understand what you are doing. But when they dothe moment when they realize that these figures indeed have a gaze projected outwardthey gasp and laugh. Immobile, you watch it all the way to impact.

locked up until we get permission to come off that target

roger wilco pilot mc cleared off target censor you can

For the most part, the sculptures seem to be looking at nothing in particular; they have a gaze, but they dont have a need for it. You wonder about your experiment, whether it has any value at all. You wind up and throw it in the air.

break lock on the bridge and lock up the target five with

tail 107 roger weve got 60 degrees more of hitting

While proceeding, you become aware of your not noticing. You walk around these figures as if they are buildings or large pieces of furniture. You navigate their boundaries without a momentary meditation on who they are or why theyre there. With that public invisibility in mind, you become aware that a fair number of these statues populating your city are armed.

copy pilot Ive got eight missiles and two bombs on

two predators in the target vicinity target five leaving

Story: Instructions come in a blue envelope carefully sealed and stamped with the word government. Use a letter opener and slide it inside the fold, cutting cleanly across as youve been taught to do. Your gloves leave no prints.

Image:

You kneel with knees in the mud.

As if a cloud were just a set of lines, manmade and fierce.

A thing, eyes to the sky and hands outstretched.

You see yourself as a clich, just a body beneath the stars and open to the elements.

Caption: A couple arm in arm. Three pass. Two pass. Now three now one. Man in shirt sleeves. Man with bag slung over shoulder. Sad presentiments of what must come to pass.

Story: The mission is already dead in the water. If it hadnt been for a lucky break (which you failed to mention in your report) you might not be where you are today. The mission part is difficult. It requires a certain language, the language of dispersal and direction. It requires following orders without really understanding ultimate goals. It requires endurance and a cheery heart.