Amputee

A wise man once said
"If your hand tempts you
cut if off
and if your eye tempts you
rip it out."

Most of us say
that there is great wisdom in this,
for a loss of an eye or a limb
is not as bad as
the loss of your immortal soul.

Few are the people
who are actually willing to live by this,
to actually let this truth manifest in reality.

In a way
I have cut my arm off
and I fear
that I can never touch you again.

I can never reach out to you
or hold you in my arms.
I can never carry you,
never give you a hand.

How do I fight for you,
or for the friendship we used to have
when I can't even hold a sword anymore?

I am cut off
I am ripped out.