If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:30)
So, I’ve decided to cut off my right ring finger.
It doesn’t have a ring on it. Not terribly useful
since I’ve given up playing piano.
It’s not that big. Not that strong. Terribly infected.
It got nicked with an arrow, one of those remarks
carelessly thrown over the shoulder as someone walks away.
I noticed the black streaks first, knew the poison
of those words was seeping to the bone.
Soon it will reach the bloodstream
and I don’t want to lose my whole hand over this
certainly not consign my whole body to hell.
So. One swift blow. Pass the whiskey.
