Tithe of Salt
by Ray Ball
Did you bring your tithe
of salt, a bundle of bleached bones
fastened with a garland, a black
cord that measures the length
head to toe? Longer than a martyr’s
meter. Longer than the segment of first
sleep on a night so long (ago) centuries
lounge. Hidden serpents in a parallelogram of shadow.
You will have to come to be more
patient. To wait for the prayerful words
to arrive, to trickle forth, a saintly intercession.
Blood beading, like a feast of pomegranates.
of salt, a bundle of bleached bones
fastened with a garland, a black
cord that measures the length
head to toe? Longer than a martyr’s
meter. Longer than the segment of first
sleep on a night so long (ago) centuries
lounge. Hidden serpents in a parallelogram of shadow.
You will have to come to be more
patient. To wait for the prayerful words
to arrive, to trickle forth, a saintly intercession.
Blood beading, like a feast of pomegranates.
Biography
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Ray Ball, PhD, is a history professor, literary journal editor, and writer who lives in Alaska. She is the author of two history books. Her creative work has recently appeared in Coffin Bell, Ellipsis Zine, Moria, and UCity Review and has been nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart. You can find her in the classroom, the archives, or on Twitter @ProfessorBall
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