It’s not true
Isaac was an innocent
who could survive
such innocence?
he knew on the instant
he’d been set up
as a sacrificial lamb
or goat
or adolescent ram
the kindling he’d gathered
the stake
the ropes
the homely paraphernalia
all were ready, waiting
their silence calling to him
like old Kronos’
hairy mouth, tearing itself open
to devour his own sons
so Abraham himself
knife in hand, waiting
by the god’s command
stood calling him to the pyre
hurry hurry
to run the knife across
the young animal
Isaac’s throat
and yet . . .
what was Isaac saying?
what was he doing
dissolving the blade
honed to a whisper
in Abraham’s own blood?
the blood of an old man!
his own father!
whatever passed then
through Abraham
rushed
blacker than his own blood
into bitter earth . . .
This is the true story
that may not be told
in anyone’s lifetime,
surely not in the lifetime
of Abraham’s god
the god, also, of Isaac
—from Oceania 2008