by Don Hall

They say when you lose a limb

It itches even in its absence.

The mind feels what was there

In spite of the void of flesh and nerve.

And the heart of another

Surgically replacing the failed and broken one

May carry the soul of the one

Who gave up the heart.

The muscle inside carries the memory of the soil it grew in.

They say

You can take the boy out of Arkansas

But you can't take the Arkansas out of the boy

This is true

Especially when he's had too much to drink

And is arguing politics or religion.

The roots of region and culture linger like the leg

The roots are like electric memory

Roots run deep in plants.

Roots run deeper in people.

The act of uprooting and relocating creates unusual mixtures.

Combinations that couldn't exist without the distance closed.

They say

The most American dessert contains

Fruit from Asia, a vessel from Egypt and spices from Europe.

I'm pretty sure most Apple Pies are undocumented.