Ekphrasis (Day 6 of NaPoWritMo)

Ekphrasis

This poem was inspired by The Garden of Earthly Delights and day six of NaPoWritMo.

I pick up the saw, fashioned to cut bark and wood,

not flesh and bone.

Yet it slices through my flesh

and cleaves by bone--

until finally the scorched foot is extinguished.

I pause for relief.

But tendrils of flame worm into me,

wriggling through my veins,

squirming into my organs.

My bones contort;

my fevered brain recoils.

I again pick up the saw.