Weekly Writing: Trim Them Up

Trim Them Up

Feel soft fur

laid in your arms.

Tiny mouth bites

finger, playfully.

Pass puppy

to nurse

who takes girls

and boys

into the back room.

Tiny mouth trapped

so cannot bite.

Clip skin.

Clip meaningless

piece of flesh.

Flesh that can

do no harm.

Brought on by

Victorian charm.

We say it's for aesthetics.

We say it's for identification.

But when denial

races in our thoughts,

puppies whine in pain.

With clipped ears

and docked tails,

bring on chance for infection

and weeks of bandages

when trimmed.

Feel soft skin

laid in your arms.

Tiny hands squeeze

finger playfully.

Pass infant

to nurse

who takes you son

into sound proof room.

Tiny hands strapped

down to table

and legs separated.

Clip skin.

Clip meaningless

piece of flesh.

Flesh that can

do no harm.

Brought on by

religious charm.

We say it's healthier.

We say it's cleaner.

But while denial

races in out thoughts,

your son screams,

squirming in shock.

Actual shock;

real diagnosis given

to newborn boys

when trimmed.