catapult magazine

The Death of Rachel

by Brett Alan Dewing

Bethlehem is not always reached safely
sometimes the labor pains come on the road
and hit at the height of heat
as the blankets are spread in haste
on the unmarked sand

then there is no gentle braying
only the sounds of midwives in fear
and a woman weeping for her son
sometimes the announcing host have only come to fight
and do not leave a name
and the only gold the child will receive from kingly hands
will be a trap
at such times it is little comfort
to hold the family gods
once concealed through a woman?s pains
or clasped in a midnight brawl
but the only choice is to bury your love
rename the screaming boy

and wait for another star