The torn fingernail br screams. br br She carries br its wound br br to me br disbelievingly. br br I stick it br in my mouth. br br Hold its pain br tight between my lips. br br Suckle it br into silence. br br I tear off the cuff br of my shirt. br br Bind it. br br I carry her br home in my arms. br br Sleep besdie her br sush and soothe her. br br After she is br fascinated br br by the nail's br attempt to re-establish itself. br br Proud of br the scar br br at the tip of her br finger. br br Later, I will bring her br to see br br the monkies dancing br on the organ. br br She will laugh br as the tiny man br br turns the wheel br and the music br br tumbles out br all over itself. br br She will tell me she likes br the monkey br br with the red scarf br and the white dots br br better than br the monkey br br with the white scarf br and the red dots.