delivering
Scripture and
a vial of tincture,
four reindeer hitched
with the witch's harness
and Christian bells, hooves
adapted to the season, winter
pads shrunk and tightened,

gunshots abounded,
The Gifted Child of the
Chosen frightened, halted
the reindeer and dismounted
the sled, hunting season weapons,
some silent, some sounded,

upon the bow rest,
the killer let fly the arrow
wounding The Gifted Child
of the Chosen, she died, the
Laws of a Torah Scroll lying in
a pool of misguided blood, the
Stars of David cried, religion in
a fog, animal politics sacrificed
a child in the Holy War of blood
of the pigeon,

a koshermart
a block away, the
Rabbi run from the
Synagogue with a wreath
of lichen, reindeer moss, an
offering to the Reindeer of Shalom
to pull the body of The Gifted Child of
the Chosen to the Synagogue,

the
Rabbi
blew the
Shofar, the
goat's horn
announcing the
beginning of Yom Kippur
and the end of a promising
life, the Divine presence starting
to make its way back up to the higher
realms, the Shofar blast signaled Divine
departure, Yom Kippur, day of judgment,
asking prayers for forgiveness,

Peace has its
price - Reindeer of
Shalom.

Copyright 11/21/2009 Ms. Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist