Bodily Assumption and Other Poems
Bodily Assumption
Home where you were born
trees clothe the mountains—
can’t see sky for fog—clothe
you said—tonight accept
you said—tonight accept
steam rising—shower curtain
clinging to your legs—hair
clinging to your legs—hair
down your back like a medieval
altarpiece you found online,
altarpiece you found online,
of Mary Magdalene rising
over a frozen rippled river—
over a frozen rippled river—
naked—covered in thick hair
everywhere but her breasts—
everywhere but her breasts—
you’ve gone months without
touch—this morning a man
touch—this morning a man
was selling apples from boxes
marked trout—you took one
marked trout—you took one
shiny and freckled—passed a bill
hand to hand—your whole life
hand to hand—your whole life
yes and no have been circling
the lay of—the way of God—
the lay of—the way of God—
you have no choice but to accept—
Magdalene in heaven combs
Magdalene in heaven combs
her pelt—when your dog ran away
your father searched in the rain
your father searched in the rain
found her—laid her on a towel—
just to look at her—mud-flecked
just to look at her—mud-flecked
shaking there—steam rising off
her fur—hurt and you couldn’t
her fur—hurt and you couldn’t
