Place an apricot under it,
let the flesh slow the edge
one bite at a time
pinch it between sheets
of soft cotton,
they may not protect the fingers
but they will absorb the blood
bottle it blade first,
stopper the wine, rum, apple juice-
point dipped in the liquid,
if it is silver
let it preserve champagne
time it, perfectly, so that you may grasp it by the handle
with a full fist gripping,
ripping it from its gravity
cushion it with down pillows
and let it flay the linen,
spreading insides
as a worrying fox spreads
pigeon feathers
knock it from its arc
or coax it gently from the air it grazes
fingertip it away from harm
assuredly but with delicacy, lightness
trust it not to fall
to sustain a teeter, brinking
on a fulcrum just so,
but should it overturn,
use gloves, use care
use a bowl of something,
butter perhaps, fresh from the fridge
it may surprise you with its efficacy.
(This poem was shortlisted for the Aesthetica Creative Writing prize and appeared in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual 2013)
