that’s just the way it is

that's just the way it is
the skin on your fingers ages first
we are these strange acquisitors
we are their very name

fastest cat, prettiest parrot
piloerection or plume
stripped of smell
but in exchange, a thumb

from him —for surely he's a he
all else that maketh man
come the rock to Abel
come the lie to Zeus

every churn of butter
every dealing of the deck
hands of divine destruction we are
that's just the way it is