Herod’s fingers taste
of earthquakes, of disaster,
of the spit of the woman
he liked before me.
Potiphar’s coins ring
in my ears, on my fingers,
a pile of gold to drown
my splayed body in.
The two men play poker,
and I am the bargaining chip,
for their straight flush,
ashamed and disinterested.
Herod will not fold,
his pride venomous
against his meaty chest,
all wiry hairs and “I dare you”s.
Potiphar raises the stakes
with a flash of gold tooth,
and drags his finger along his neck,
slender and elongated.
The guillotine already feels familiar,
as the rules are plucked
like fresh grapes
or the only rotten part of the fig.
Herod beckons me forth
to look at his cards;
“yes,” I say,
“you are ruthless.”
Potiphar snatches me, now,
and I see his hand,
“yes,” I say,
“you are wise.”
Both men want something.
A prize to rip open
and sink their gluttonous lips into
like they do not know Daniel.
I want out of this room,
the sticky heat of summer
is beginning to upset
the restless lions.
From a collection of poetry I wrote for a creative writing portfolio in second year of university, titled 'New Rugged Cross'.
