A Prophetess

the crowd on the beach
is gathered to gather her sacred things.
in the crowd
at the back of it
I hear- she was lost
in the sea & was found
on the shore.

from the front I hear-
only these things float
on the ashen river
only these things can raft
out of purgatory.

I want these to be the bottlecap
she put her teeth to
the end of the shawl she chewed
the ointment for the patches on her back
virgin mary & infant jesus
carved in radishes
somewhere in mexico
the pen-lid she bit bit bit
into the shape of an elephant’s trunk.

relics.
relish.
revel.

is she talking only to me
or am I the only one listening-
you all are gathered
what more do you need?

is it some sort of blasphemy I ask
to kiss a prophetess?
Let’s find out she says
& we find out-
we are lost in the sea
we are found on the shore.