witness

i noticed that the pain stops being
felt where the injury occurs. smash a
toe? the knee aches. or my back
flares. mebbe its bad messaging.
though, i have ignored all other good
senses so that betrayal is on me. what
choice then is left? i imagine the
body gives up on warnings. all that
remains is its power to remind you
that the injury is not the worst of
it. and, also, that i don't get to
vote. this is a brutal and skittish
fluency to learn. the effect and 
affect flip us in dislocated ways. a
nervous babel sets in while we are
trying to master a curriculum of safe
seeking a center, or shelter, a
mentor, some relief.