"Wanting"

This is a piece I wrote in response to a prompt from David Lehman in his column "Next Line, Please" of The American Scholar. The prompt itself is as follows: use one of five Proverbs of Hell by William Blake as your "point of departure." My choice? "The nakedness of woman is the work of God." What immediately came to mind was to flip this statement, resulting in "God is the work of nakedness of woman." Controversial? My premise is that Blake's "God" is set in a historical context which allows for interpretation. My astute fellow writers, and Lehman himself, suggest omitting the first line altogether, ultimately freeing my poem from its initial departure. Would you? 

From "Next Line, Please" March 21

The first line of Charise Hoge’s “Wanting” provoked debate. Was it merely a rhetorical trick?

God is the work of nakedness of woman.

A piece of work, this god. Woman sheds

her corset, crinoline, bustle, chemise,

petticoat and drawers–so to soften god’s

vengeful manner. She cuts off her hair

and peels back her skin smooth as a grape.

She dissolves into pulp. Not even god

can find her. But wants to.

Here's the link to the column for more:

https://theamericanscholar.org/the-nakedness-of-woman/