It is hooking a fish’s jaw, 
pulling it out of the water, 
and skinning it alive. 
Change is putting a molten rod 
on a bleeding wound. 
It is cutting your dominant hand off. 
Change holds the capacity to kill, 
and with it the sagacity 
of giving you a chance 
to be reborn. 
It is chopping the dead plant 
so it doesn’t infect the others. 
 
Change is repentance. 
Change is turning back, 
or turning your back. 
It is indifferent, 
seldom gentle, 
and never optional.