boiling it down

you try to boil
everything
down
to what
it really is.
you let the water
bubble
with heat.
rise over
the lip of the pot.
the flame
is high.
you drop
the carcass in
and let
the meat slide
off the bones
as they
get soft
and fall away
from one
another. you
add some salt
and pepper to taste,
but that's all.
the essence
of what it is
and was
is all that's
left after
an hour goes
by. the pure
broth of who
we are.
i'm not suggesting
boiling
me or you, but
just a chicken
or a spent turkey
for now.