The Blessing

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

—Genesis 32:24

A man came upon Jacob in prayer and put 
him in a headlock, and when he wrestled free,
the man tried to use a single-leg takedown, but 
Jacob was too quick.
                                         —Oh, choreography 
of prayer, the surprise half nelson of it
as we’re dragged from ourselves. Or pinned, like Jacob.
Why did we kneel? Why did we close our eyes if 
not to be vulnerable?
                                          We don’t know enough 
about the man to know why Jacob had
to fight for it, the blessing. Bruised and sore, 
he would remember this Olympiad,
but it’s more than that. Something about before,

when he was also pushy, walking around 
without a limp like he didn’t need one.

Read more from Issue 15.1.