Ancient Era

The Eve of the Exodus

the days united the blood of grapes and milk at the seashore
and became judge of the horned snake and royal dainties
and the crown of a ravenous wolf
charged the field and kissed the days of mourning
and went up to the threshing floor of lamentation
died and was embalmed

Prescience

in primitive times
when hi-
story was imagistic
language simple
a total eclipse presaged
a total eclipse was feared
and honored and celebrated

then science described decoded and defined it
until now on this new Millennium morning
it is a slept-through phenomenon
or a curious sur-
prise to wide-awake
workers ending dreary
worknights

Originally published in Status Hat (guest editor: Mojie Crigler) (May 2011)