it’s not happening now

a dilemma. not happening
now
it’s not
happening over again
but still happening
all over now, a radiation of the senses
a phantom limb all over
scarred mess of tissue
if only i could cleave it, separate it from the wound
of it happening
asking me not to dwell on it is asking
to tie my hands and swallow it
whole and unblemished
over not happening now
but it happened, still happening
and i can’t get over who i’ve become
better, stronger, wiser
still healing, a happening now
not happening over again, sure
the worst of it
being i’m glad it happened, it woke us
up out of something tired and wasted
but had i known, always
had i known, i never would have
taken her, given her this pain
to forgive