On Knocking the Head Off the Buddha Statue by Melinda Burns

On Knocking the Head Off the Buddha Statue

An urge to re-position the hostas around
the plaster Buddha in the rock garden—
Stepping around and over him,
traversing the little hill,

the uncertain rocky places,
my foot catches—
           he tumbles forward,
                      his head hits the stone—

I thought it smashed and gone
but the break is clean,
head separated from body
as is my own some days

I carry the severed parts,
to the table,
squeeze the last bit
of Krazy glue along the edges

Then, clamping them together,
my fingertips rough with glue residue,
I place my hand on his head,
close my eyes and press down,
pray for wholeness

*

Melinda Burns is a poet from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Melinda’s poems have appeared in the Fiddlehead, Fall 2023 issue; Textshop journal; Mothering magazine; and forthcoming in the New Quarterly, Winter 2024 issue.