To bind yourself

sometimes the fabric belongs around your hands-
the tearing and destruction
man can wreak.
woman can wreak.
 
this flesh will give
under the blow of humanity’s
strike of religious persecution.
the blood will be bled
for nothing.
 
other times the fabric belongs around your mouth-
the screaming and spitting
we burn worlds
with out tongues.
 
and young children will be left
to carry themselves in their arms
and to raise their pups
as if they were more
 
and to pin this task on their wrist
to leave them with this mess.
the garbage we’ve heaped,
as if it were less.