Wednesday, October 5, 2011

When Our Organ of Wonder Has Failed

When our organ of wonder has failed
and we our own physicians have cut it free,
washed it, packed it clean on ice,
we awaken to a rallying heartbeat
half-cheerful amid bland breakfast and flowers.
We will leave the gurney soon,
travel through hallways, elevators, turnstiles
back to our old affairs.
Anesthesia is merciful -- we cannot see again
what secret metallurgy we have done
to forge a tougher organ, indifference,
from castoff love.
But when from age our anomie cracks
and we return searching to the lab,
there we will find our grail --
a freezer bucket labeled "wonder"
stashed between the tarry hearts.

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