Ishmael

Fathered by Our Father

And we ourselves great Fathers:

I born of the Moon,
And he of the Sun:

Eloah following Allah.

Planetary blood is shed

And wrists take root in heels.

The sword is dropped

Between celestial brothers

(The sober and ebullient,

Both to father wild men:

Mirroring and mirrored by the other,

By the birth of an enemy-brother,

A nation.)

The sun-child draws his blessed blade at birth.

Favored child of God, he scythes three cycles

From my side and prospers:

I, stripped of berth and birthright, lance

A star from his exterior

And wander.

God has heard, but God has also

Shunned:

Eli, Elohim, Father of my father,

Lama Sabachthani?

Which God decrees, and scorns what He has ordered?

What God has left, no beauty can redeem.

I blacken my iniquity, and wander.

Below the Stellar Cradles battle nations:

Gabriel and Gibreel draw their arrows,

Samael and Azrael draw swords.

Sun and Moon stand shaking in their fury,

Husband, what a foul thing you have done!

Shall I now watch the blood flow from my son?