As I brought down the blade

Its gleaming distal length

Raised my hair to forewarn

Danger ahead. But the edge slid on

Pressed in seeking my expectation

Of cardinal red flitting

The split soil of my body

The drizzling drops dripping onto the skin

Evidence glittering in the sunlight

Left for snickers and jeers

But it was a cold season.

Nothing happened until the plow was dragged away

And a furrow appeared

Then the dam broke

Overflowing the furrow

Spilling across the clearing

Washing away the pain

Growing fascination mixed with calm

Emptiness.

Beads spout out of growing vines

Trailing, wrapping, intertwined

And looking down, a body,

Acres of land to grow