(Genesis 21:14)

by Christine Layton

Hush, Ishmael,

The dawn is green today

And the day will be white

Without shadow.

No one awake

But us, in the cool dawn of a prayer,

Three goodbyes

On the bare curve of hills.

Water slaps in its bottle in footstep rhythm

Of three

Then two

A dog wakes the flocks

Far away.