The Leg

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Mud to the horse’s knees, 
miles with only the moon 
and then his patient screaming, 

the leg red and swollen 
and only amputation to offer. 
He would not do this again, 

would not only offer loss, 

where to go from there 
always his question. 

His mind working 
turning possibilities 
must have been touched 
by God, led 

to consider the dead bone— 
what he called the sequestra— 
its removal, 

it might work, 
and then the mother, Lucy 
pressing him, her question 
what can you do to save it? 

He describes his procedure, 
really an experiment, 
with some success and the boy wants 
only for the mother to leave the room, 
the father to hold him. 

He proceeds, the cutting 
always hurts his heart 
though he knows it can help, 
places his assistants 
strategically to block the boy’s view 

knowing this must be quick careful complete 
knowing as weeks go by of the leg’s improvement
not knowing what the boy went on 
to do or why he needed the leg.