B Rivka Clifton

—AFTER SHANE MCCRAE

Belief

My mother
can’t
believe
it—not
to boys,
never.

Never 
to my mother 
could it happen. Boys
can’t, 
no, not
to other boys. She believes

in icons, believes
their forever 
burning and knotted
hearts. My mother 
once saw one pass out its flames, and can’t 
imagine a boy

doing that to another boy.
No, not 
like that. She can’t, 
never. 
My mother 
says not

who but how. Not 
which boy.
My mother 
knots 
her hands repeats never. 
She can’t;

it can’t; 
not 
to me; never 
a boy— 
not
possible. My mother

can’t imagine boys,
no, refuses; believes
in forever, the icon moving alone for her.

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B Rivka Clifton co-edits Bear Review. He is a PhD candidate at the University of North Texas. His work can be found in: Salt Hill, Pleiades, Beloit Poetry Journal, and other such magazines. He is an avid record collector and curator of curiosities.