Woman of Exodus

Summary

The poem "Woman of Exodus" reflects on a woman's internal journey through life, paralleling the biblical exodus, as she grapples with memory, time, and the concept of home.

Abstract

"Woman of Exodus" is a poignant poem that draws a parallel between the biblical exodus and a woman's life experiences. It portrays her as a wanderer who, despite physical confinement, experiences a mental exodus, traversing the wilderness of her mind where time loses its linearity. The woman's past in Mississippi becomes her personal Egypt, a place of origin that haunts her dreams and memories. As she navigates through her inner landscape, she is visited by friends and family, but her consciousness is anchored in a past that blurs with the present. The poem suggests that her mind, like the burning bush of the biblical Exodus, is ablaze with thoughts and memories, yet it is not consumed by them.

Opinions

The poem conveys a deep empathy for the woman's experience, recognizing the profound impact of her past on her present state.
It suggests that the woman's mind is a sacred space where time and reality are fluid, much like the divine presence experienced in the Exodus narrative.
The author implies that the woman's journey is both literal and metaphorical, with her physical limitations contrasting sharply with her boundless mental wanderings.
The poem reflects on the nature of memory and how it shapes one's perception of self and the world, particularly in old age or when facing cognitive challenges like dementia

Woman of Exodus

Poem

Prompt: Exodus

“i am the bush. i am burning. i am not consumed.” Lucille Clifton

In the Land of the Parting

A poem for my mother, struggling with Altzheimer’s

Aging

The Thief: One-Line