The Virginia Quarterly Review, October 1st, 2002
SKINNING
How many times did I hold them up for him
and watch how easily something that had lived
comes apart? In each hand I clutched
an unlucky foot and splayed them, belly-side
to him, and he'd pinch the fur at the crotch
and with the knifepoint separate the fur
from the muscle and fat underneath. He'd cut
all the way around until it seemed the rabbit's
long shirt had ridden up and then with one tug
he'd pull the fur down the body and over the head
the same way you'd tug the pajamas off a child.
From being plush, they suddenly looked frail, naked,
even old though most had known ...
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