The Banishment of Hagar
by Johann Friedrich Overbeck, 1839-1841
Since she is just a servant, she must go
and take her offspring. Ishmael is first
to step outside the home as if to show
his mother how, yet he looks back, face pursed.
Then Hagar leaves, but slowly, shedding tears
at losing shelter she has counted on
while doing others’ bidding through the years—
it seems their former gratitude is gone.
Such is not Isaac’s fault, the child God sent,
the promised heir although a second son,
and Abraham feels forced to implement
what Sarah to her shame (or not) wants done.
The men behind the master talk about
a situation all must figure out.
Jane Blanchard of Augusta, Georgia, has recent work in Pulsebeat, Snakeskin, and Wild Court. Her collections have been published by Kelsay Books.
Amethyst Review 