Words by Eliot
Art by Kathy Lee
Begin with the essential connections
to the outside; each of those tubes
which grew up in our soiled birth
Examine these minutely for wear
and signs of imperfect formation
understand that ceaseless movement
demands early faults be deep cut
by age at which inspection can begin
Turn inwards to the valves and chambers
and understand how one substance: blood
– elsewhere called life or love in liquid form –
behaves under pressure
Observe then how blood
has marked out its territories
in your heart and how
when one region collapses
(the blood has been evacuated
or else congealed and toxified)
the rest spurts, spasms, shocks
the whole system
In case of collapsed system
call it broken; like a bone
with no fibres to knit no prescription
for the pain
In case of catastrophic failure
Observe:
remove the afflicted organ
(with minimal oversight)
wrap in plastic
and return to Maker
Enclose a note
I recommend:
Irreparable.
Request refund.
Send away that pulsating meat which
despite all contrary wishes
continues