Praying for Crusa
By Kate Rushin
Must Simon bear the Cross alone and all the world go free?
—Protestant hymn
her mother
Now that she is gone and lives away from us
all I can do is pray that Our Lord keeps her safe.
A mother knows her children; I know my Crusa.
She has always had her own mind.
the women
Liberty ... Humph ...
At her age, how long can she earn a living?
Who will take her as his wife?
With no children to call her own;
who will she have to depend on?
the men
That Crusa was always a strange one.
Talking back, sassing.
That Crusa was always a strange one.
Kept to herself; never said much.
Notes:
This poem is from “The Witness Stones Project” portfolio that appeared in the November 2021 issue. The authors write about the series and the collaborative process here.
Source: Poetry (November 2021)