FROM THE COUCH OF JOANNA

by Joanna Gilman Hyde

I would have broken Communion

with You with Your Name

on a maple-frosted cookie

on sale from No Frills

up in My Dark-creviced Bedroom

away from My Family —

I would have broken through

The Lie of Christmas symbolized

as The Literal Snow Job

fertility rite within the broken wreath — egg

with a lying elf responsible

for any materialistic answer

coming — ejaculating

down The Vagina Chimney

to lay out His Wares

at a triangular bush with stars

— The Heavens —

all over It

I would have broken through

The Myth of Our Making

with You

on a cookie

but I was

ashamed