The Battle of Jericho
after Servant and The Old Testament
The harlot of Jericho welcomes the spies.
First through a womb post six preceding
tries (blue-capped sticks organized beside
where husband sleeps, the pink plus sign readings
in plastic, progeny, keep the name of
each tragedy close to his heart, marked
in Sharpie, documenting each start. Love
requires some sacrifices sixfold, stark
observations of urbane wives cajoled
by the second’s arrival via front door —
puritanical sort you abhor, old
Testament tropes (madonnas, crosses, whores.)
Angel of judgment, that a harlot lets in,
restores your first born to smite him again.
Kristin Garth is the author of seventeen books of poetry including Flutter Southern Gothic Fever Dream, The Meadow and Candy Cigarette Womanchild Noir. She is the Dollhouse Architect of Pink Plastic House a tiny journal and has a weekly sonnet podcast called Kristin Whispers Sonnets. Visit her site Kristingarth.com and talk to her on Twitter @lolaandjolie
