for rachel

my sister

who I snatched out of the gilt jaws
of some groaning beast, plucked
from the temple of God’s fortune, stole
from the mouth of His grinning
statue, all wet and chewed-up.
hurried down the marble steps,
threw a dark cloak around her.
she, leaned up against me, I, frantic, stuttering
sew her up wake her up.

I’ve stowed her in my attic
where I patched up the worst of it
then pushed in a set of new teeth
see? you’re good as almost
new, but just quiet now, keep quiet, please.

I swear all these years I am
nervous as a woman with
a lantern in my window or
as if it’s 1944 and there are Jews
in the annex . always chewing
my own lip, waiting for the knock