By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
STONEWALL JACKSON’S ARM
Stonewall Jackson’s
amputated arm
clawed itself
out of the grave it was given
after succumbing
to friendly fire
When the rebel General
fell ill from pneumonia,
he summoned the limb
that never refused an order
—be it to shoot
bootless deserters
or exchange money
for slaves—
The sawed-off arm,
unable to swim,
drowned as it crossed a river
toward the outpost
where Old Blue Light’s flame
coughed up dead night
Without the hand to raise over
his head,
as was his habit,
Jackson
could no longer balance
the blood at war in his body
and surrendered to emancipation