thesis

in questioning whether or not
the body is a tool
(a service provided for short-term use,
a vehicle rented for the afternoon)
we are forced also
to question whether or not our usage is correct.
(can the hands do this?
can the mouth?)
in deciding, ultimately, that
what we should care about is physical damage
(disease, stagnation, atrophy)
we decide too that
the endeavors of the mind, of the heart,
of the soul, are less important, less integral to self.
let me be clear:
if it makes my skin tingle, i will do it.
if it makes my heart skip, i will do it.
if it makes my voice sing, i will do it.
because whatever it is
that makes me laugh, cry, ache, moan,
shiver, dance, vibrate, curse, emote, breathe,
it is worth losing the esteem
of some random external moralist
to have done it.