by Shawn Anto
1 Mother asked God to save me from my wicked assimilation, unto him Almighty, I sacrifice. 2 I will say back to the Lord – “He is a confusion refuge and a mistaken fortress, my God, in whom I scatter remains for.” 3 Doubtful, he will save my hide from a broken future, in which, mother claims her children are lost, in debt from the devil’s snare and from the deadly greed and ignorance. 4 He will shroud with golden, thorned feathers, below embrace, his followers will come to California and touch me back to safety; his abundance is gold and acidic, some say it will be glory, but I cannot repent, just yet. 5 They will not run from a terrorized, nor flaming daggers flying during sunrise, this new God has touched you and dad, no one can look into each other’s eyes. 6 Each cruel turn will not turn us away from a sinful morning mourning muddy river or aftershock of trauma. 7 So many fallen to poverty, fall to their knees in prayer, fall to God’s side, both hands out, but do not come near, they fear what heaven really means. 8 You only perceive what a mother has said about punishment, what the world looks like after collapse. 9 My ma says, “Jesus is safety, a refuse,” they call him Most High, Messiah, I bat my eyes and go running for more truth. 10 I am told purity falls into veins, no harm comes to fragile skin of immigrant youths, no shame, but here my mom comes swinging with the Lord at her side, I hide and wait. 11 That in which HE will order, angels protecting the damned in their ways, I trust the water from the hand into the lips, I will not understand, but I go willingly. 12 At the hour they rise up, take blood with them, with thee there is no stone unturned, bow at the feet, remember the worth, ma says it’s time. 13 Every beast is waiting, hungering, a serpent and this lion’s den, what could God say in this act of contrition. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 I am supposed to honor HIM, strip the body for HIM, the life in which I lead for him, ma said this trip was needed for HIM, the life, the sacrifice, now I close my eyes. 16 “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
17 Enrich my own sense that this summer I could repent and not give anything back to the person I want to be and the person my mom expects me to be – Amen.
Shawn Anto is 23 years old from Bakersfield, California. He’s originally from Kerala, India. He currently studies at Cal State Bakersfield looking to receive his B.A. in English & Theatre. His writing has been featured in Orpheus literary journal, Internet Void, Ink & Voices and Mojave Heart Review.