Yev Gelman

Ars Poetica/Manuport

Manuport /ˈmænjəˌpɔrt/
noun

1. An unmodified stone carried to its findspot from
elsewhere by human agency.

Before there was language, there were two:
a man, and a stone, which looked like a man—
the first example of what we now recognize to be
symbolic thought.

The man died millions of years ago and still knew
to notice them: stone nostrils, stone mouth;
to walk barefoot thirty-two kilometers, stone
in his hands, the longer he walked, the heavier.

At the ocean, I am
arranging seashells
to make a face.

It didn’t make sense to the archeologist: how a stone
found itself a continent away from its nearest counter-
part. The art historian knew at once: Don’t you get it?
He must have seen the face.

It is not always necessary
to edit the world.

The very first sequence:
to find, to recognize,
to carry with
and keep.

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Yev Gelman is a Brooklyn-based writer, artist and immigrant rights activist currently working with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Originally from Moscow, Yev received a dual BA from Fordham University in Theatre Directing and Creative Writing. Yev plans to continue building an artistic practice that centers public art and activism with an emphasis on migration justice and queer/trans liberation. When not working, writing-working, making-art-working, or hanging out with his loved ones; Yev enjoys reading, biking and eating tomatoes from his garden. His work has previously been published in the engine(idling, Peach Fuzz, Moss Puppy Magazine, Nomadology Review and Skeleton Flower Press.