Towards the height of the mountain
Was the question of gifts
And who should get to keep them
I sat between a downward slope—steep as no
—and a climb I couldn’t make except to crawl
I crawled on sand and sweated in my hat
Though G-d believed I crawled for G-d
I crawled to know the height of my own rage
I carried myself I cursed myself up
Slid down—and named the day adoption day
I didn’t bring my gifts to G-d
I kept them all
I crawled I stood I fell
I kept them all
Elaina Ellis is a poet and editor in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of Write About an Empty Birdcage (Write Bloody Publishing), with poems in publications including Poetry Northwest, Muzzle Magazine, and Vinyl Poetry. Elaina is a Lambda Literary Fellow, a founding member of the Jewish Voice for Peace Artist Council, and works at Copper Canyon Press.
By Drregor
