As a fathom of waters
As a keeper of otters
As a fan of the Dodgers
As a foremost scholar
As a leaver of mothers
As a giver of quarters
As a failure of rathers
As a faithful supporter
As we gather together
As a fear of disorder
As a phantom of operas
As defender of borders
As a frayer of wires
As a friend of the doctor’s
As an author of gospels
As a field after slaughter
Copyright © 2022 by Hannah Aizenman. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on March 1, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets.