First-Born

Jody Bolz

At Passover we show you
how to dip your pinkie in wine
and recite the plagues of Egypt.

You’re only three, but words
like blood, frogs, lice are easy.
Darkness, too. Hail.

You parrot us—name each drop,
reddening your plate, as we move
toward the worst thing—

the one that worked.