Osteoartritis strips
the branching tree
of activities down.

Strap, wrap, limp, groan
until the only fork left
becomes the knife.

Tibia and shin bones
scraped like overgrown
taxus, shaped and resurfaced
with metal to make
a simulacrum of life.

Scarred, some titanium
struts, rebuilding
strength. That knee
matches what I already was.