Paw

Out of the need to make a light (A sentinel heat dispersing the night) We marveled proud at a burn so bright (The oil leaking disregarded) What didn't catch when the lantern flashed Wept for the half that had turned to ash And the singed forest of your body wretched For its wholeness, now departed One for the hike, two for the road Three little pumps make it overload Four for the tackle and five for the code (All the courage he could gather) One on the match, two on the lead (Three whole weeks in a hospital bed!) Four: St. John's wort, waking the dead And the skin going hard as leather Half out of you, half out of us (Half ever more cadaverous) Some out of pig flesh, some out of dust Will put you back together