de-BREED-ment
Julia Magnusson
Published 11/15/03

is defined as the surgical removal of dead, infected
tissue or foreign matter from a wound. Debridement
has bride in it but we can only see her, not hear her.
Instead, we hear breed which sounds like maybe
—once we learn the meaning—teeming bacteria
on that dead infected tissue. Some words lend themselves

to other situations far from their definitions.
The theremin is an electronic instrument played
by moving the hands near two antennas. If you walk away
before you’ve properly shut it down, the theremin just
gets louder. Now I find debridement waiting to be stickered
onto something, I hold the gem, this word, debridement,

carefully, a perfect treat best saved for later,
and no I will not write and tell you of this because
though our theremin has been quiet enough lately,
I think you will not find debridement funny at all.

-Julia Magnusson