Member Poem

but a calamitous event 
flattens in a drop of saline
as it secretes from the lacrimal glands. 
It serves to protect and heal
the surface of heart and cornea,
a softening of the scalpel blades - 
necessary despite distortion.

The question remains of how to unload
without withdrawing into artifice.
The desert crocodile is known 
to approximate its consistency
in terms of viscosity, 
                      tonicity.
                          tonality, 
                                totality.

No, that we understand, and all too well:
useless as a medical textbook
bracing a table leg,
and we won't have any of that 
if we are to be honest with ourselves.

I cannot find the words or facts
to express such devastating grief.
When tears alone are not enough,
I remain a loaded gun.
I remain a heavy, loaded gun.