Rizpah

You stare at the fallen

 

in unspeakable grief, and recall

 

the first steps, the tiny hug, the baby smell

 

all the little details a mother knows,

 

beneath the Terebinth tree.

 

Oh Rizpah, the pleasure of all eyes

 

the delight of Saul in his prime

 

what have you become?

 

Fighting birds of prey and jackals as they stalk the decaying

 

flesh of your flesh...

 

Amoni was the quiet one,

 

Mephibosheth the witty one, who laughed even in sadness

 

Here they lay eyes agape in unspeakable horror, hung like thieves.

 

Saul would gather them in the small of his arms,

 

and they, beauties to behold would giggle in delight

 

Rizpah, your existence is that of demented reality and excruciating dream in the middle of insanity

 

The Jackals have come again, aiming to savour the carcasses of your decaying sons,

 

You  stand weakened by hunger and sorrow, and shoo them away again.

 

God of Israel, take this pain away