“Heart and Spine”
(aka Ode to the Mediastinum)
Heart says, “soften”
Spine says, “stand up”
Heart says, “I am full
of aching waters”
Spine says, “I am tired”
Heart says, “there
is my mother
about to leave”
Spine says, “center
here, with me”
Heart says, “I long for you”
Spine says, “I am unwhole,
and unwell,
without you”
And a wellspring,
emergent web of fascia,
blood and nerves, deep
in the chest and belly,
spanning an inner space,
says, “good thing
you were never
really separate.”
— LB