yes,

he knelt

 

a daughter of Jerusalem

“ΟΤΟΗΕΚ,” ‘little flame’

his voice

young and low

spoke of winter’s end

blessed me, eat.  to eat.

 

they do this for you,

you tell me, a lover,

a christian

in answer

to your laughter,

slight as rain, asking

 

and so I am the daemon

the half life’ little faith

demanding

until the thing itself empties

and I give it up.

 

I sought his language

practiced letters

Προκτυτε Ηαω

Κϒϑα

They join and finish

miscarried by my mouth.

 

Amenorrhea

I eat very little

and wait.

 

try not to speak

O Daughters

black and beautiful.

 

What would you give?

your celibacy?

your hands?

 

there was a time for that

I lay

half-open

half-lit

your arms as they closed

beside me

gave you a pomegranate

dried each autumn

 

Carry me desert fathers

on your back

with your feet

 

##

by Shannon Nissa Bailey Powers

(from white note papers)