Going Out
Debra Rienstra, Professor of English
The Other Journal
Issue 7

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
        —John 11:20

The tomb’s black jaw
cored and crushed me, too.
But see, my heap of brittle bones
rises up to crawling,
puts on a shred of flesh,
goes out.
Sometimes hope is in the hands and knees,
even when the heart lies still.

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