Sacred (Fools hiding in Whales)

Inside a whale skull, Science museum, Raleigh, NC

There should be warning labels on nature
or i may need to wear gloves
when i cut the pineapple

It's no easy task,paring away the skin,
all the little brown dimples & removing
the core without losing much meat

thunkah, thunkah, thunkah
each pass of the knife, a sigh

i gnaw the hard center, like chicken
bones, not wanting to miss any

chunk the rest in a blue bowl
for dinner, my fingers burn, burn-ing, burn
as the juice searches my hands

for each cut or nick, crawling inside
& rutting out every little flaw leaving
none unnoticed---even ones i did not know

rubber gloves may save me the pain,
or i can wash my hands, go on about my day
but can never claim ignorance.

a blind man now able to see, would he
put his own eyes out again?

i put the knife away & watch a sparrow
search the yard for seed through the window.


written for Imperfect Prose & Poetry Jam