They told me as a child,
pick the fish-bone from your plate and go
quietly behind the one
who is choking on her dinner. Find
a way to deposit
that mineral sliver in her hair,
and she will be spared.
I believed without asking,
trusted without coiling
my spine. How is it possible
I could hold out my hand then
and touch, or hold, and nothing broke?
[LAG-other-response date=”10 13 2014″ url=”https://www.vianegativa.us/2014/10/self-exile/” title=”Via Negativa: Self-exile”]