Atonement

Mother cut off her leg

To save herself

Up to the knee

To survive

Show me the stump

Behind bloodied bandages

Show me the bone

Checks and balances

Record the whimpers

Alone in her room

Record the changes

Of her tune

Tell me it stunk

Burned with infection

Tell me she sobbed

Receiving this lesson

Given the choice

Between walking or death

I would have chosen

Stealing her breath

Mother cut off her leg

To save herself

Up to the knee

For life

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love how harsh & blunt & powerful this is. There are many different ways we destroy some part of ourselves in order to save our own lives. In the old classic TV series "Lonesome Dove" the beloved Captain McCray dies rather than lose both his legs. It can really make a person think. It kinda divides people up into two groups -- those that would & those that wouldn't. Your poem provokes us to try to figure out which kind of person to be (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris]

Taken as real this presents a strong reality. Taken metaphorically this presents a sad reality all too many face.