“Woman with Alabaster Jar” by Amanda Auchter

                If you could taste me, 
I would taste of sour wine, street 

dust, stale bread. I am nothing— 
a woman in a brown cloak, 

unadorned. But how I want 
to be beautiful for you, to kneel 

at your feet, brush my tears 
into your skin. Forgive me— 

I love too much. I open my jar, 
pour spikenard onto your stone-

bruised feet. My heart is muskroot, 
brambles, chipped alabaster. 

I wipe myself into you with my hair, 
press my lips to your feet, 

once, twice. Your hands fill with 
my wanting, my hair, little 

yellow flowers I wore for you. 
This strange desire between us— 

you, wanting to save me 
and me, unable to be saved. 

---

Image by Destinee Dearbeck