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