One Flesh

before boaz, the glistening

fields and gleaning wheat,

there was

 

cleaving

 

women pressed in parting –

ruth hot and wet

to naomi’s sorrowing ear:

 

do not urge me to leave you

to turn back and not follow you

 

there was

her plea/demand/declaration

           

wherever you go                 

wherever you lodge           

           

there was

covenant and

 

cleaving

 

ruth and naomi,

said to have

 

stuck/

held fast/

clung/

remained steadfast/

joined,

 

traveling by night

to bethlehem,

sharing one cloak,

 

surely up late

whispering,

planning for ruth’s

swift engagement,

 

later seated side

by side to nurse

ruth’s infant, to touch,

 

cleaving

 

passing blood, milk,

a body between them –

from their flesh,

a new and warm and

beating heart.