Sacrifice

by Leanne Dunic

Trace thumb along gut.

Ignore the ammonia odour
of sacrifices past.

Aim for the triangular target.

Squeak.

A bead of urine emerges.

Hold faith, the church of reason,
the sake of humanity.

Prepare for fixation:
Splay spine against
styrofoam board
paper towel lined.

For the sake of humane
tap paws for reflex.

Pin apart palms.
Affix feet. Snip pelt, tweeze.
Clip membranes, ribs.
Through buck-toothed gasps
the thoracic cage deflates.

Saline cleanses
       next to godliness.
Fluid billows, a sunset
damp on paper.

Demystify
       heart hype hope.

Waste not, want –

need

another heart.