poem.

prima facie.

spear with

your tongue the word that

undoes me.

quantify your prediction with calculations

from the sun

& make sure to use stiff, old instruments

callously past their due date.

gather evidence

record the letters

gather evidence

there are signs of exhaustion.

make sure to affix the label to

the finished product:

a tumor, not malignant

but one, a

needless

infection

product of upbringing & biology.

full of spores &

ancient sores

lined pages on arm.