Milk-Drinking Ritual

first quench the eye’s lust for color
this is a fast of sorts

the earth must be buried
under any snow available

the glass of the glass
must be clear and clean

the milk whole and stolen
from long-suffering cows

lower don’t raise the filled glass
turn your back to the window

offer milk to each corner
of your grungy kitchen

watch your shadow lift
a shadow to its lips