Imago Dei by Nora Hikari

Imago Dei
Nora Hikari

We cannot help but be students
of our fathers’ disciplines,

                    mine an avid disciple
                    of scripture and royalty.

What else can I confess?
That I was a child? I carved myself

                    into the civil shape of a knife.
                    Pared until only the edge remained.

I killed things because I could.
Magnifying glass and the sun

                    and the silent crawling things that
                    could not fight back.

That had no choice but to only
hope for mercy. Unable themselves

                    to beg. I confess. I was desperate
                    to know that I was not alone. Every day

we are made once more in the image of God.
Every day God asks, Cruelty again?

                    And every day we say, Oh Lord of Heaven,
                    please, yes, yes. Cruelty again.