Amputation

Do not say to me
‘Ah — but you have your memories!’
— As if memories
Were a collection of glass animals
In a glass case
To be taken out and dusted
At regular intervals:
— Do not say it!

These things are flesh and blood,
Interdependent,
With veins and arteries, and nerves
To flash messages one to the other.
It was an amputation,
With risk of gangrene,
Bleeding to death,
— At best the pain
Of phantom limbs.

It is done.
Do not rub salt
Into these quivering stumps.