self-sacrifice | a poem

By Calista Ogburn

i give so much love

i don’t have enough left for myself.

i sacrifice myself to the heavens:

slice the flesh off my thighs and hips

crack open my heart

break off two ribs

rip out my tongue

place my body on a plate and display it on the altar

an offering to show my devotion.

what is left of me

lays on the dirty tiled bathroom floor

i stare at the flickering light above me,

my mind is untouched.

the only thing intact

and yet

it is the next sacrifice.

i go down on both knees,

         take it. take all of my love. you deserve it more than i do.