the murky focus is for the squeamish

who might squeam

if they saw how like crawling centipedes

these new stitches slash scars appear

.

this makes six surgical scars and a patch of road rash

two on my forehead three on right hand/wrist and one on my left knee

and the road rash on my left forearm

.

hey wait i forgot my appendix scar

that makes lucky seven

.

we are all scarred

and not all scars heal well

and some not at all

but we are here

and here there are avenues of comfort

.

the hockey player gordie howe had dozens of scars

they were an occupational hazard

and badges of honor

.

the road rash has been healing gradually over the last seventeen years

it has gone in relative size and shape from australia to japan

.

so i hope to get the scar to hawaii by my hundredth birthday

.

and my centipedes will have joined my lifeline and loveline seamlessly

when i shake my Maker’s nonhand