White
as the meat
within the shell
as the shell before the caw
a bleached weed
a fig
dusted to sweet the skin
egg albumen of peacock
butterfly
held to the ivory of oxen hoof
pulling
the space
between sins I am
as I am so
the host on the tongue
God of Bread
complexion of conquest
the salt of Lot
as God is
a crown of thorn
diadem of wheat
so am I the echo
calling fossil back to name
amaranth ash spread across the light
Copyright Credit: J. Michael Martinez, "White" from heredities. Copyright © 2010 by J. Michael Martinez. Reprinted by permission of Louisiana State University Press.
Source: heredities (Louisiana State University Press, 2010)