On the Creation of Adam

by Ellyn Lichvar

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Poor motherless bird versus God.
Whole nest of bodies shrouding him–
 
pushing, pulling–and your single
limp wrist in downward wave
 
at the universe, your own source
of indifference, soon to be center of.
 
A joke. Absurd image born of
nonchalance, miseducation. It wasn’t
 
my fault: Sliver of bone, slimmest rib.
It’s no wonder I came second.
 
If you hadn’t eaten what I put
between your lips you would have
 
starved. Would that have been
preferable? Keep creating a new image,
 
set of likes. Shift blame. Set aside
want for salvation. Pull up the line
 
again and again until at its end is
happiness–intellectual engagement,
 
sexual spectacle or, rather, I hope,
a healthful dinner for when I’m away.