the bible speaks of lions
and deserts and giants
though i’ve never seen them
only in books and in
paintings from somewhere
south of here where my dad goes
once in a while or so he says
but i think he’s round the corner
smoking cigarettes and
betting my life on black like
his lungs and the ink
he uses to write me from
so far away when he remembers
to write at all
and mom reads the bible
when we’re going to sleep
tells me about the burning
bush and the talking serpent
holds my hand when i cry
with my head on the pillow
even though i’m not sleeping
&
so when that letter comes
that makes her break down
in our kitchen
i hold her hand too
just how she taught
me and it doesn’t help much
but it does help a little
and i think of the bible
and the terrible things i’ve never seen
and the terrible things i have
while i rest in her arms
pretending to comfort her
and play mother just how
she taught me on the floor
in our kitchen
beneath the painting dad brought home
of little jesus and the virgin mary.