First Blood

The first blood drawn      I drew:—
clipped too close, the fragile bed

of the baby's fingernail opened a new red
song inside my throat. When I tell you

I wept at so little loss    and fear
bloomed inside this, I mean

to say I discovered a sudden
window for my waiting,

for paring prayers—:      may what
breaks rise and reach again.

Copyright Credit: Geffrey Davis, "First Blood" from Night Angler.  Copyright © 2019 by Geffrey Davis.  Reprinted by permission of BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.
Source: Night Angler (BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org, 2019)