SHECHEM

SHECHEM

Simeon let me grip his hand like a vice Solicitous as an hospital matron I did not cry out Feeling Levi’s fumbling hands Knowing the blade’s agony already Having imagined it an hundred times Preparing myself for this moment It was a small thing they asked of me Telling me of Abraham’s flint knife Of Ishmael’s tender flesh The hill of the foreskins And the soldiers lying prostrate Weak as kittens on the third day after Telling me it was a small thing to sacrifice But Hamor my father the pain the pain Lying now in the darkness of my room On the third day weak as a kitten Telling myself aloud that Dinah is mine Drowning with my own voice the voice of the pain Soon she will come Her cool hands carrying The soothing balm I must not think of her

They say each day brings more healing comfort Soon I shall feel nothing

Hands Part the door flap A shaft of daylight falls across my body Dinah my love my love Two silhouettes Merge with the darkness of the room As the flap closes Levi

Simeon

Is that you You bring some ointment Some healing compound Simeon held my hands to the ground like a vice It was not needful The weakness in my limbs precluded struggle Feeling Levi’s fumbling hands The blade this time seemed almost kind