if I am a part of you that
needs to be removed, I accept my fate.
go and pick your tree, out back,
touch its trunk and look up at its leaves--
what is the view like? and dig
a hole, long and deep. go and gather
at the creek a pocket full
of pebbles, grey and white, in secret
shapes only you and I will know,
little specials we will hunch over
together. if I am just
a story from your childhood
that needs to be exorcised, then
go and get the gun while I am still docile,
it will all be over soon.