top of page

Exodus

Rachel Linton

they wrapped their lives in newsprint and buried them in the garden.

there was no time for funerals;

they left their mother’s silver, wedding rings, baby photos in unconsecrated ground.

she cried as she knotted her earrings into handkerchiefs and slid them into the shoebox,

above the dog-eared family photos and her marriage license,

and when she put the lid on she shut her sadness inside with the chattel of her life

and buried it all six feet under.

she is an old woman when she kneels again in that garden,

not in years but in the lines of her skin, the ache of her bones,

and the distance between then and now.

when she opens the box she sees the pieces of another woman,

not her at all.

it is that woman, not herself, that she cries for

when she unknots the handkerchiefs

and the sadness and the earrings spill out together.

THE GEORGETOWN INDEPENDENT

Contact Us

Follow Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • White Instagram Icon

Members Login

The Georgetown Independent

409 Leavey Center Georgetown University Box 571069 Washington, D.C. 20057 Telephone: (202) 687-6954

 

E-mail: indy@georgetown.edu

Sections

Articles are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or staff of The Independent or the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University.

The Independent encourages letters to the editor, which should not exceed 500 words. The Independent reserves the right to edit for length and style. Advertising information and rates available upon request.

 

The Independent is composed on Adobe InDesign and printed by Heritage Printing, Signs & Displays, Washington, DC.

Indy Logo-01 copy.png

©2017 BY THE GEORGETOWN INDEPENDENT. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM

bottom of page