As sure as back streets caked in snow

melt and go,

so the stapled cardboard box locks,

as too the  thumbs push further in

a thumbnail clicks.

Remember the time your thumbnail clicked

as cardboard panels stood their ground

 

the time you had that panic attack

nail bent back

just think: thumbnail bent right back. Snap!

It left a curved white line across

a keratin shell over soft blood and skin

bent, for an instant at ninety degrees

 

Look at the curve of that thumbnail. Ghastly pale,

the blood’s drained from your face. Racing

pulse of panicky sickness

nail bent in the middle - ninety degrees.  Concave

and open like a cup

why not bent back from the cuticle up

 

Actually no, that might even go through me.

Hanging off droopy,

the nail hinged at one end.  Bending

in the middle’s not quite as bad,

except the sickening click

as the curved nail bends double and back

 

And so, I leave you with such thoughts

on opening a cardboard box

and opening a finger nail

Merry Christmas one and all.