Desert Creature

My hands were once mirrored in oasis,

drenched in the sweat of my labor, the

fullness of my fruits,

rich, voluptuous,

enough.

 

until you

saptapped my stomach acid

brain juices

spit me abridged to your young, hungry mouths

{let them chew and choke}

you harbor the slain as a cautionary tale,

mantis stooped in “prayer” plucking my needles,

wielding them as crusader swords,

stabbing my sides, I pour and pour

“Why are you so desperate like this?”

 

your hummingbirdbeak hummingbirdbelly

swells with life robbed from me

 

I am stationary: my roots reach wide, but never deep--

 

useless, God, I’m useless

that oasis bends in winds you blow

distorted body, distorted face

useless, God, I'm useless

I pour and pour and pour.

 

I hold 2,000 seeds within me, Mother Full of Grace

I house your children,

their children,

their children.

Every day, I endow their tilmas with nourishment,

my cape releases cascades of the sweetest, fairest vitality

I teem with the life you sought to steal

nestled in my candelabra arms

 

And though you sought to parch me,

starve me,

your own venom’s deluge saturated my petrified

Spirit: resurrected

Every day, the moon lay at my feet

the stars encompass me

the sun crowns my head

 

I am home, sustenance...

Providence.