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)