Judith

I feel a splinter of hair under my

Fingernail.

A gift from you, my General.

You cannot see me now, for I

Have done what you have done

And done, and done again a

Thousand-fold feeding the dirt

Til it is red and

Ripe.

But, see, now I am the heroine.

I am immortalized in memory and

Print and passionate spittle.

I am in nearly every household,

Gold leaf, glory Hallelujah.

A page for you, my subordinate,

A book for me.

A spine is severed.

My dress is ruined.

-BENJAMIN SMITH