Justin Vicari: Shackles

Long ago, they were heavy and clanged everywhere.
Some people claimed not to see
or hear them. These people were
mad, and they made their shackles
heavier. Now and then there was nothing to be done
but remove a limb altogether.
In time we came to resemble our shackles,
they moved inside us.
Forbidden books are memorized,
the easier to be
forgotten. Beautiful young bodies,
pressed against each other.
Some people claim our spines
are implanted at birth with tracking devices
in form of microchips. Everyone agrees,
these people are probably right.

Copyright 2017 Justin Vicari