Fucking Up the Ritual

The gods demanded sacrifice
– only the best would do –
I should’ve jumped right in to save you
’cause it’s me they wanted, not the fool
who jumps right in, in surety;
but I’m way too good a swimmer
– would’ve fought currents ’til my end –
sometimes sacrifice is standing here
and breathing, owning weight of rock on sand.

© 2014 Amoret BriarRose. All rights reserved.

Image: Island Itätoukki (Östertokan) outside Helsinki by The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland – no known copyright restrictions