Body Invaluable

I touch this skin:

My scar-crossed flesh –

Ten fingers, ten toes, ten thousand stitches,

Each trainless track –

Curves over tendon, past bone.

Distinct cadence,

A halting rise/fall:

I leave

Half-foot prints

With my toe walk.

Startle reflex

Unbalances me –

Yanks me

Like a novice puppeteer:

I trip ungracefully over myself.

Right fingers

Wrap over-tight,

Then, misinformed, let go.

Above the breaking glass

Knotty fist grips air.

Left hand bounces quarters into tumblers

And hits everytime.

Scarless,

Left hand lifts me, types these words, waves hello.

It dials your number, beckons you close.

Gena Smith

Winthrop University