SANDRA THIBODEAUX
Sample poem
Alms
It's Holy Thursday, George.
In another millennium,
Jesus is washing the feet of his disciples.
He is about to lay down his life for -
no, not his friends - his enemies.
This is what I'd like you to do:
lay down your arms
for Ali Ismael Abbas; peel
the skin from your flesh
and wrap his pupal form; drain
your blood into a cup
and hold it to his lips; break
your body into several pieces that they may
be father, mother, grandmother, brothers
and sisters to him.
We are two thieves, you and I,
but he has done nothing wrong