Inked

Behind the scenes of one of my favorite poems

April is National Poetry Month, and as such, I’m sharing one of my favorite poems I have penned, as well as a little behind the scenes information I’ve held close until now.

On the morning of February 9, 2022, I thought of a sentence: “Sadness is my permanent ink.” It was during a time of the pandemic where I felt our knowingly high-risk family was seen as a discardable burden. The times quaked, leaving behind many jagged edges.

My family wasn’t fine.

I wasn’t fine.

I felt alone and absolutely broken.

Out of that pain, “Inked” was born. While it’s true that in the poem you’ll find pain, grief and sadness that I tried to match with words and imagery, I also hope you’ll notice Christ, right there as deep cried to Deep (see Psalm 42). The reminder that Jesus saw, knew, and cared (that he Sees, Knows, and Cares!) was something I needed — and still need — to get through the hard and the painful. He IS my hope!

INKED

What if
	Sadness is permanent ink
	Incrementally staining skin,
	Bleeding into veins,
	Snaking toward the heart?
What if
	Sadness is permanent ink
	Fading, wrinkling, stretching
	With age
	But never disappearing?
What if
	Sadness is permanent ink
	Inviting disdain,
	And looking-down frowns
	As if marred and irredeemable?
What if
	Sadness is permanent ink
	Scarred like Him
	Who bore stain
	And wept?

-MDJ (2022)

If you’re local, I invite you to visit the public library during the remainder of April to see a display of poetry penned by local poets. I am glad for the opportunity to share a shelf space with some great pieces!