Jason never cusses

 

Jason never cusses

because with nine children he keeps clean
habits but now I hear an ear-burner as he’s
clutching fingers dripping valentine red like
he’s trying to stop a faucet from his heart
so from the first aid box I wrap gauze around
two fingers half severed though Jason says
at first it felt like a squirt of water no pain
as I spiral orange duct tape over gauze like
clown fingers and say I’ll take him to Kaiser
but he wants to drive himself so I say hold
the hand elevated above your heart and please
don’t pass out as he says now there’s some
pain yes indeed but then he runs back clomp
clomp big boots to the board he was sawing
and finishes the cut, perfect.

Swipes with his shirt sleeve
swishing spatters of scarlet
to leave all things clean.

Then he hops in the truck. Gone. Gone fast.
Because that’s Jason. Not that any of us cared
but he simply had to finish that cut.

…..

First published in The Adriatic
Photo by Myriams-Fotos