Windfall

She bit off his ring finger first.

Jesus! he said. Haven't you any manners?

There's silverware in the drawer.

After a moment of thought, though,

he bit off her finger too - and dashed

out the door.

Luckily a ring, like a LifeSaver,

won't coerce you into choking.

It'll just feel really uncomfortable.

He wasn't worried, he had unshaken

faith in his peristaltic strength.

Still, as the gold eroded

the world took on a reddish tint.

He thought perhaps he'd become

perpetually enraged or even insane

since his senses defied symmetry;

bled alchemy;

ruined reason.

the ambassador