I am named immaculate

untouched

created in the image

of holy mother,

expected to be expectant

reproduce 

carry forward the frozen preserves of yesterday’s culture

I am not my brother

bald mountain standing proud in exile

collection plate for the 

‘should-be’s the

tongue-clicks the

‘shame-on-you’s the

‘always-have-been’s ‘always will be’s

self-annointed champion of the “natural” order

pride and joy of the nation

I am more

I am the undying strain of germ

I find my way into every open vessel

sour every drop of milk into yogurt so rich

even the cows prefer it to their own

I am the keeper of threads

embroiderer of the caves of man

my voice a torch, lit with song

burning green with serpent’s fire my dance

unties the knots men bind upon the jugular of those they call

unclean 

I am the high priestess;

portal to the divine, doorway to the fertile unknown

snake woman

I am the end of all beginnings

  and the beginning of all ends