<\/p>\n
the tractor-mower hits a stump on the slope and<\/p>\n
flips in a second. thrown off, earphones ripped from<\/p>\n
the ipod when sergio is between mas que na<\/em> and da.<\/em><\/p>\n then an adrenalin-fuelled leap to avoid<\/p>\n being crushed between tractor and post<\/p>\n and trailing fingers go thump in the blades.<\/p>\n when the eyes see the end of the finger hanging,<\/p>\n a flap of mincemeat, a second thump of the heart \u2013<\/em><\/p>\n orchestral stab in a horror movie soundtrack.<\/p>\n the other hand squeezes<\/p>\n mashed flesh to stem the flow.<\/p>\n the drive to flinders medical centre, cold sweat<\/p>\n dripping into eyes, blood dripping on gumboots,<\/p>\n willing myself to breathe slowly. hot needle pain.<\/p>\n triage, grass-clippings on the e.r. floor,<\/p>\n calming pulse, x-rays. the matter-of-fact<\/p>\n egyptian surgeon with french accent.<\/p>\n my eyes clamp shut as he works<\/p>\n for almost an hour reconnecting<\/p>\n nerves, tissues and finally skin.<\/p>\n later i watch him fascinated as he<\/p>\n reconstructs the end of my ring finger,<\/p>\n a busted raw sausage held together<\/p>\n with fine blue thread.<\/p>\n \u00a9 rob walker.<\/p>\n (first published in Australian Poetry Members Anthology Metabolism<\/em><\/p>\n ISBN: 978-0-9871-7650-9 March, 2012)<\/p>\n Also in tropeland<\/a> (Five Islands Press) 2015<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" the tractor-mower hits a stump on the slope and flips in a second. thrown off, earphones ripped from the ipod when sergio is between mas que na and da. then an adrenalin-fuelled leap to avoid being crushed between tractor … Continue reading