A Notification Letter

You halved her like someone eating a chicken,
A casual separation of breastbone,
Her ribs arranged and flattened like planks,
The woman, a wooden walkway.

You forced her apart like someone reaching for change,
A relentless scraping and her insides pouring
like green pennies from a coin purse,
The mother you left me, made of copper.

You died like one death was payment enough.
But I am writing to notify you that
Upon further examination of your application:
I have rescinded my forgiveness.

I am writing to say:
Our azaleas are still wilted
And have dropped their
petals like eyelids
Through my fingertips.