The Permanence of Memory

You can use the brain
of an animal
mushed up, with water,
to tan a hide.

You can use the lump
between your ears
to move mountains,
(if it’s bigger than a mustard seed)
if you feed it right.

You can use the mind
of a child
to create empires (or art)
depending
on what you teach her.

You can create peace
or war,
if your words are not careful,
because they’ll stick.

You can pass on old tales
for millennia
to bright new minds,
or kill them softly in disuse.

Please exercise caution
when operating
your brain
and ensure that both yourself and all nearby persons
are wearing the relevant safety equipment.