Wild Animal
like a cat with a ragged, missing ear
or a dog with three legs

The bag she holds
is melted to her skin.
Something in the bag,
never meant any harm
but its rancidness
is simply unforgivable

black, bubbling rot

she'll carry it all the way to
Rome.

and never know
that all she has to do
...is cut off that clenching hand

05/31/2011