that’s what I want to do

forget this minuet around  
     over     through
situations/words/
phantom
blink of tears

just 2 foot lengths
spreading wide
for a 12 pound maul/
random tangle trap of hair
for beads of honest sweat

excluding our palms,
our skins
are too tough.
The answer—
The balm?

Split wood:
ash, maple, pine, cedar,
elm, hickory, apple
    
heave   grunt   slam   crack   silence

Work with me/
                  with me/
aim for the perimeter
and the heart will break open
                   smooth      clean
            still full of life
and ready to burn