By Alan Felsenthal, from the December 2015 issue of  The Brooklyn Rail. Felsenthal cofounded The Song Cave, a small press. His first collection of poems is forthcoming from Ugly Duckling Presse in 2017.

Two martyrs stalked the earth
almsgiving equally
so neither knew the other
was capable of competition
until the first martyr sacrificed
his life before the township
by jumping into a fire pit.
Some said the second martyr
inspired by his friend’s decision
faced the pit and…