The Golem of Prague, Oklahoma

 The Golem of Prague, Oklahoma
 
 The golem was אמת and מוות.
 In Oklahoma he is merely clay,
  
 runed with foreign letters
 by a foreign hand.
 
 The golem does not know
 who here he is meant to protect
 
 or from whom. The golem is shield
 and sword but no longer knows
 
 what war he is fighting. The people here
 pray to statues more fragile and innocent
 
 than he has ever been. Of the golem
 they ask nothing, and offer no commands
 
 with which to animate his powerful, aching form.
 At night the golem dreams of ancient streets
 
 and candles in windows, of blood flowing
 into a wide river and a duty fulfilled.