THREE DAYS AFTER HE WAS MURDERED, RICHARD PRATT BEGAN TO FEEL MUCH BETTER...
A seemingly random act of violence propels Professor Richard Pratt into The Hereafter. It is a strange, muted, netherworld of the dead-a world in which he is forced to bear...
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I would give up all my toes and maybe even a foot.
Thumbs are not required, so one of those can go.
But not a thumb and a foot. Only one of each.
Below the elbow there are bargains we can strike.
But I need one hand to raise a fist to heaven, and demand justice of God.
And a middle finger to raise if he refuses.
One arm must stay, so I can pull you from the grave.
But wait, the other I must keep to fight back the demons.
So perhaps I cannot give up both arms to have you back.
I have two ears, but at night I will need just one
to listen to your soft murmurs against my cheek.
But wait, my other ear must always be tuned for danger, if I hope to never lose you again.
So perhaps I cannot give up both ears to have you back.
It seems that I have very little to offer.
I'd give up my breath to make this bargain, but you took that away, years ago.
—Excerpt from "To Have You Back" by Keith Woo, as it appears in "The Heavy Work of Vanishing: The Collected Poetry of Keith Woo," edited by Pi'ilani Kilani, page 220.
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