Reprieve

by Lianna Halko

In this skin I am:
A Friday morning crucifixion
The splintered heart of childhood’s end
One hundred and eight baptisms

In this skin I am:
Life’s departing prayer
Unsynchronized heart palpitations
Spirits’ echoing scowl

In this skin I am:
Light of lunar eclipse above Zion
Heartache of lovers’ final touch
Burning thickets to ash

In this skin I am really just:
Compulsively cracking ten toes
Squeezing lemons into water
Silently setting the table for two.