Brittany Michelson

Wishbones and Gunfire

Leonardo DaVinci had a theory that all things are connected. He claimed a connection could be found between any two random entities.

Wishbones and gunfire require human action in order to make noise

The pull of a trigger and
The pulling apart of bone
Creates sound
The blast of one
A snap of the other

Gunfire extinguishes wishes; wishbones create them

Either way
All goes up in smoke and
Eventually dissolves
Nothing is permanent

Wishbones and gunfire break down

The bone is made separate
Divided into two sections
Gunfire
Makes separate flesh from muscle
Destroying
Humans, animals, buildings, peace

Gunfire and wishbones change form

Gunfire was once a bullet made from gunpowder
When the bullet leaves the barrel
It takes on new purpose
When the wishbone leaves a bird's body
It dries and becomes useless
Like all bullets that trespass flesh 

Wishbones and gunfire signify destruction and celebration

Bullets and bones are pulled from lifeless bodies
Gunfire goes off in parades
And shows and independence days
Wishbones are pulled apart at Thanksgiving—
The largest of the two bone pieces
Like the loudest of gunfire
Is the one to leave a lasting mark 

Wishbones and gunfire engage opposition

A wishbone is pulled apart by clashing wishers
Gunfire results from clashing thinkers 

Formed by the fusion of two clavicles, the wishbone strengthens the thoracic skeleton so a bird can withstand the rigors of flight. Therefore, does gunfire that doesn’t kill, strengthen the recipient to withstand future blows?

 

Brittany Michelson's print stories are published in PoemMemoirStory Magazine, If & When Literary Journal, and an anthology by Bona Fide Books. Online stories appear in Bartleby Snopes, The Whistling Fire, Glossolalia Fiction, Every Day Fiction, Backhand Stories, Effluvia, Speech Bubble, and other journals. Poems appear in The Poetry Of Yoga Vol. 2, Bolts of Silk, Flashquake, Four and Twenty Poetry, and Every Day Poets. She is a teacher living in Topanga, CA.