‘it is our turn to carry the world’

This past Sunday (Feb. 9) I concluded my sermon by reading the new poem by adrienne maree brown called “it is our turn to carry the world.” I also offered the same challenge brown does in their post presenting the poem: Write down the names of those you–like Shiphrah, Puah, and Moses’ sister–commit to protecting. You can write specific names or targeted groups of people. The list can be long or short, it just needs to be a true commitment for you. 

Once we’d heard the poem and again offered the first part of the challenge, these are our next steps: Memorize the list on your paper. When you have it in your tongue and bones, bury it into dirt you love. That way the very earth holds this commitment with you, with us. It will be like we are growing our own resistance.

it is our turn to carry the world
we are each other’s safety
right now, and every day
decide who you will protect
yourself, your own and who else

it’s time to cover all that we love
land, creature, place, person
intertwine your roots with mine
in this way our lives become miracles

there will be strangers
they will become comrades
we will each say our needs
we will learn to let community come closer

Click here to read the full poem.