Some Bright Morning

Peggy Vierra Link (1923-2004) Wash Day, 2009, Oil


If soap could wash
their sins away,
I would never use it.

This line isn’t free
or the pins that
hold us to it.

I’m waiting for some
bright morning,
but I won’t fly.

I will put on my second hand best,
leave my footprints in their cotton,
and walk straight backed into glory.

It doesn’t matter how hard
you scrub a stain, dirt has memory.
Truth will always return to the blood.

©Susie Clevenger 2017

Comments

Kim M. Russell said…
'It doesn’t matter how hard
you scrub a stain, dirt has memory'
yes, it does. True words well penned.
May 9, 2017 at 2:00 AM
Thotpurge said…
Strong poem..loved the closing lines...dirt has memory..wonderfully said.
May 9, 2017 at 2:29 AM
Marian said…
Walking with her back straight. I love her.
May 9, 2017 at 4:58 AM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
Arresting! I love the final line best of all.
May 9, 2017 at 6:47 AM
Sanaa Rizvi said…
This is soo incredibly potent, the emotions here are so fierce! Especially love; "It doesn’t matter how hard you scrub a stain, dirt has memory. Truth will always return to the blood."
May 9, 2017 at 8:11 AM
Timoteo said…
This feels sassy...and kinda dirty. Nice.
May 9, 2017 at 9:12 AM
Gillena Cox said…
nicely said ...

", dirt has memory.

Truth will always return to the blood."


Happy Tuesday Susie
much love...
May 9, 2017 at 9:36 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Your pen is powerful and true.
May 9, 2017 at 10:32 AM
brudberg said…
I cannot avoid to think about Lady Macbeth after reading this....

Out out damned spot
May 9, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Anonymous said…
Here is something to make your poem even greater; more hard hitting. "What is the truth"
May 9, 2017 at 6:04 PM
rallentanda said…
Love this painting. Indeed..the stain of slavery will never wash away.A powerful wonderful poem !
May 9, 2017 at 6:57 PM
Magaly Guerrero said…
I feel this all the way to my bones, Susie. People might try not to remember, but earth (and blood) never forgets.
May 9, 2017 at 8:31 PM
Jim said…
Kind of scary here, Susie. The best your writer could have would be dirt that doesn't forget. Even the blood will rum to hide.
..
May 9, 2017 at 11:19 PM
Buddah Moskowitz said…
Oh, this is so true. Thanks for writing this and sharing.
May 10, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Anonymous said…
wow...the closing is so potent and so true.
May 10, 2017 at 5:13 PM
colleen said…
Very potent, especially the last stanza.
May 10, 2017 at 6:28 PM
Outlawyer said…
Intense and heart felt poem, and speaks directly to the reader, Susie, thanks. k
May 11, 2017 at 6:50 AM
Post a Comment