June is National Poetry Month. I’ve been enjoying my friend Karissa Knox Sorrell’s “poem a day” posts, and decided to post my one and only published poem today. The icon of Christ known as “Extreme Humility” was published with the poem and was also an original of mine. (The poem was published online at USADEEPSOUTH.COM.) #npm15
The Imperfect Peace
by Susan Cushman
O’Connor said it was Christ-haunted,
My home, the South.
Maybe that’s why
I can’t escape His hold on me,
Like Jacob, who wrestled with the angel.
Sometimes I want to run away,
From my roots,
From my God,
But neither will let me go,
And for that I am, at long last, grateful.
The angry child tries to escape
His father’s embrace,
And fights against
His mother’s love
Until, exhausted, he collapses in her bosom.
That’s where I find myself today,
At rest in the arms
Of Christ and the South,
Having at long last
Buried the sword and accepted the imperfect peace.
You can probably find links to more poetry posts on Twitter @POETSorg. The National Poetry Month poster is by Roz Chast.
Susan, this is lovely, and expresses beautiful the dichotomy many of us feel at times being brought up “differently.” Yet, through it all, is the peace beyond all understanding awaiting as we settle into his loving arms.