before man learnt to separate
everything from the other
before man learnt to name
anything in its own
before we collectively
invented dissection
bodies would open uninvited
the insides would show themselves
to wellmeaning crowds and these
would stare and sigh in awe
at open wounds and curled insides
of all things that were there
the insides weren't as shy
they were soft and meek
the flesh was willing
the mind was weak
the minds were open like wounds
the flesh would open like flowers
people would stare at the endless curls
the gaudy colours of the insides
they looked with respect and fear
the insides looked back in kind
today we look at the liver the kidneys
the heart the lungs the brain all the words
we extract them with steel purify in water
examine them with curiosity
examine them with a glass
with anatomies
with microscopes
that's why in this era the insides are
distrustful
that's why in these times the wounds are
secretive
the insides are wet and soft
the scalpels are cold and sharp
the insides can't trust us to see them
the ways they want to be seen