Torrefaction

when Susan died

we all sat in the lounge and cried

I phoned to tell Michael and Andre
Michael said "that's so heavy"
as if I'd dropped the news on his foot

as if he suddenly knew why people say
your nerves all end in your toes
it felt like when you mash
your toe into a crate
you can almost see the pain
crawl up your leg into your brain
if time would stop you'd tie
a tourniquet
the pain might not get past your knee
you could stop the nerves from clanging

but if you did you'd lose your foot
you'd limp around on a wooden leg
you'd feel the phantom of your foot instead
you could never scratch your itchy toe
you'd have to wear long pants and boots
or everyone would know