Knuckles

Rounded knuckles

Make soft indentations

In the black soil

Carrying with them

Beautiful smudges of

Earth, stretched across

The edges of rough fingers

Rounded knuckles

Toss, squish, and flatten

White, buttery dough

Imparting the strength

Of wizened hands

Into life-giving warmth

And soft, crackling loaves

Rounded knuckles

Crack the cheekbones

Pound and pound

Merciless and airless carnage

Faces torn, bloodied eyes

Stinging tears, hot, scalding

Another's flesh adorning

Rounded knuckles

Pink from rapping

On the slammed oak

Door, impliable trees' flesh

They come to bleed

Weeping and dry from

Desperate lonliness

(3/23) -- Work in progress