Taking a Stone

for Jeff

The worst was a new load of pine I was fourteen the truck unloading out back we’d stack the wood

by the saw its teeth sharp and quick I knew what it could do it could cut a man’s hand off but more likely

a few fingers in a pile of sawdust we’d have to search them out we’d have to unload the wood step-high to avoid

tripping on what was there on for instance untied shoelaces piles of sawdust scraps of wood

near the metal trash can the trash can a crushed can of soda my own tired heels scraping the cement floor

I was too young to push the wood through too young to lose a finger though I could catch I could clean I

could sweep the dust filling the air I knew full well what violence the world had for me rain hitting the tin

roof the wind out back the shop sang and off we’d go like a finger to catch the wood off the saw

repeating the motions until my arms ached I felt so weak I felt there were so many ways to get killed

or maimed then just yesterday there was a stone on a conveyer belt that shouldn’t have been there a factory

in Sharon Pennsylvania where my cousin worked he grabbed the stone was caught it took off his skin

up past his shoulder part of his arm at least he didn’t die my cousin I can’t picture the belt I’ve not been around

one like it but I know what can take an arm I’ve seen what a taken arm can do I’ve seen the arm

taken armless man on the street I’ve looked away have stared been hopeless I’ve been so very hopeless

ever since like there is no reason to hope my mother calls says they might not need to take more.