Sacrifice
by Tzivia Gover
like a goat spilled open on stone a new life rising from the stench
from smoke her will tendrilled now ash a wish offered up
to paint study law now mother she types briefs
for a boss who promised mommy hours health benefits you see
someone left when that plastic stick blinked two pink lines
you see she who bleeds is no stranger to the command
to sacrifice what’s most precious she will trade (she knows) her name
for borrowed gold for someone else’s peace her body for freedom
to be tethered like an ass to laws she didn’t write
if only she can translate this bowl of entrails into prayer
custody battle into myth translate alphabet of blade or bullet
at their throat her child or yours translate that into flame
purify this pain it’s holy when they say so translate she/he/it/this
wasn’t yours into from the beginning she is the one
who sees what must be sacrificed so give it give glory as it is taken
Tzivia Gover is a poet, and author whose most recent book, Dreaming on the Page: Tap into Your Midnight Mind to Supercharge Your Writing, is an IBPA Gold winner. Her poetry has been published in dozens of journals and anthologies including The Mom Egg Review, The Naugatuck River Review, The Other Journal, and Pensive, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Learn more at www.thirdhousemoon.com
