Poetry and Preaching

An amazing day--worshipful, quietly powerful, filled with surprising insights and fresh perspectives. I spent the day at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities attending "Poetry and Preaching" led by Sam King. Just wanted to pass along my THANK YOU in a public forum for the seminary, the class, and Sam King; along with her bio; and a poem that "rocked my world" today. And, one more thing, also attending the class was Pam Wynn, author of Diamonds on the Back of a Snake.

 Susan Deborah (Sam) King teaches writing at various institutions including the University of Minnesota and the Loft Literary Center. Formerly a Presbyterian minister and psychotherapist, King leads retreats on creativity and spirituality and is the author of Tabernacle: Poems of an Island, One Breasted Woman, and, her most recent publication, Bog Orchids: Island Poems.

A poem by Kathleen Patrick

Commuting


I think of you
When I am driving in my car.

On the way to work,
Picking up something at the grocery store,
Rushing for a quick workout.
There are other times, yes,
But the car is where you are closest.
You sit somewhere behind me, your voice
Not really there, but I can imagine it.
And when you laugh, I feel it
Through my chest and stomach;
You laugh more now.

You seem perplexed.
How could things have gotten so muddy?
Family slipped away,
Days rolled over to years,
Too many angry words
Said in haste.
But, mostly, I feel you smiling
When I recall the part of the past
That was worth photographing.
And when something has gone well
In my day, you seem to be there,
For the ride home,
Telling me how proud you are,
How you always knew I had it in me.

This poem can be found in this most excellent poetry anthology: 

The Wind Blows, the Ice Breaks: Poems of Loss and Renewal by Minnesota Poets