The Nature of Harm

Straightened leg, arching foot forward

Into awaiting hands

Force pushing in opposition, kneading 

Separating toes one from the other

As if hands and toes were meant to

Have separate lives waiting only for

A time to share a delicious friction 

A wrestler’s dance moving in and around

It was like that with things said and unsaid

With time and place wrapping around people

And objects falling into place like the crash of

An earthquake in reverse of its own violent motion

Downed chairs righting themselves against gravity

A shattered bowl coming back together, unfalling

The cat unhorrified as clock ticks backward 

Toward a more gentle peace of mind

Yet no surgeon of physics could, God-like

Move harmed objects into better states

Or casualties of hurtful words withstanding

A better outcome against spoken abusion

In madness now the words coming forward 

Hurting sometimes like exquisite arrows of pain

Tearing flesh through and through

As real as you admitting no love for me

I safe in my fortress of injured perception

Expecting harm from you as a caught rabbit

Anticipates claws ripping into furry pelt

And spiked jaws powerfully crushing neck bones 

No drop of blood wasted as I am devoured 

By the mighty hunger of your attack

Blinking twice before my soul is extinguished

A deathly nourishment for carnivorous instinct