Waiting

I saw them set about him
with a knife and fork. Cutting, carving,
peeling him apart. All in the name of science,
one of them said,
as she gritted her teeth,
and rushed to cover up his face.

I could see no more emotion as she hacked
through his ribs, pulled out his insides,
dropped them on his chest.
With a slip and a slop they came
slithering free. Remnants in a bucket
to be buried with the rest.

They told me none of this
when I filled in the form,
just took it quickly and thanked me so much:
We're so short of donors, round here,
did you know? You've really no idea
who your body's going to touch.