It is said
That it is
The strongest muscle
In the human body
It has been
Used to hurt, injure, maim
Humiliate and on
Occasion, build
It has caused wars
And disputes, ignited
Love affairs, fanned
The flames of hatred,
Feuds
Some have used it
To manipulate the
Masses while others have
Used it to enlighten
It is a powerful
Thing, this stained
Curved, twisted, forked
Thick, thin thing that lies in
Our mouth like a springboard
Ready to pounce or inspire or
Light the fire
No wonder there are
Those who want to
Suppress it or cut it out
Some of us go through
Life not knowing that
We have one
And there’s this guy
In San Francisco who
Didn’t know he had
One
And year after year
Eviction and removal
Have gone by
And the friends of his life
The landscape of his life
The elders of his life
Have disappeared before
His eyes, replaced by
Skyscrapers
He’s finally found
His tongue
It was in a jar
In the cupboard in
The house where
He grew up
And the guy
Took that jar
And looked at his
Tongue
A lot had settled
And built up
On it
Hot sauce
Ginger
Wasabi
Vinegar
Soy sauce
Fish sauce
Sitting
In a ferment
Of fire
Waiting to
Be found