Leah

   how was it that he would want to earn   her  , 
a second wife?
desire 
the way he would shear at my father's sheep
every muscle bent 
and his neck throbbing 
a hidden sun from some distant blessing
desire 
even as he ate the food i would prepare 
with his fingers held mid air 
at times 
the only talking between us
how was it then . . . 
into our nights where 
everything practical 
measured became 
for every son i bore him 
the war i could never win