On the Playground Brother Teaches the Girls about the Old Testament
- On the Playground Brother Teaches the Girls about the Old Testament
Brother says, “On the third day God created opportunity,” retells Joshua, and the walls stay upright.
Rahab has a hole in her floor where she keeps cigarettes and coffee.
God does not send Jonah to Ninevah;
God sends Daddy to get Uncle from Veterans Hall.
There are new commandments: don’t forget your bike on the lawn after sundown, keep your address, gg’s phone number in your sneaker,
cross the older boys only once; carry your own basketball, your own quarters, your own story about what you’ve seen.
Brother dips a finger in the fountain, makes the sign of the cross on his forehead,
and Lunch Lady calls him, “Problem,” says, “Boys like you become chalk marks on a wall, hands through a window.”
Says, “Sit down.” Says, “Don’t.”
Brother draws diagrams in the anthills watches what the sun says in shadows, and all the girls in the bleachers hold their breaths like sacrifice can save him. [End Page 107]
Brother has not gotten to Job, Isaiah. Brother has not covered salvation yet. [End Page 108]
Sarah Carson is the author of two full-length poetry collections—Poems in Which You Die (BatCat Press) and Buick City (Mayapple Press)—and several chapbooks. Born and raised in Michigan, she now lives in Chicago with her two dogs.
