Vasectomy

This has been a crazy week. Yesterday I had a vasectomy and the days leading up to the procedure were fraught with anxiety and anticipation. Constant questions as to the nature of the decision were being made, is this the right choice? what if, what if, what if... But the choice is made and I am comfortable with that. I do have a poem to share and I would love your thoughts.

Over


I grasp at the pulp of language
to squeeze ink—into memory—from my pen.
I grasp, like a lemon, the rind and
let the juice run over my hands
onto paper, into consciousness.

The juice fills and stings the wounds carved
in my skin and like an astringent it leaves
them cold and burning.

And I am left empty again.
Having let it all go
over
my skin.