a leg on the table lays 

foot swollen black 

rotted toes puffed straining

gangrenous, the 
 

healer walks briskly

gloved hands upheld

questions bored room subordinates

manipulates the leg

once, twice

satisfied the 

green clad team 

prey huddles
 

"scalpel"
 

skin separates smoothly
 

cleanly
 

one stroke,

two slices,

three strokes, 

sponge

clamped, 

life's 

highways 

diked
 

one loop, 

two loops, 

three knots 

tiedexpertlyroutinely
 
 

deeper

deeper
 

muscle laid bare
 
 
 
 

sponged, exposed, the wet white shaft shines
 

gleaming stainless hacksaw slices, 

slices 

one stroke 

hard bone 

two strokes 

marrow

three strokes 

hard bone

four strokes 
 

routine detachment

swiftly detached
 

the destroyer in motion callous chucks severed sinew
 

spontaneously routine on the

floor, 

ray ostrander © 1997

all rights reserved