On Our Knees
The prayer-poem below was written in the same week that a leaked opinion draft authored by Supreme Court Justice Alito revealed that Roe v. Wade was likely to be overturned in June 2022. It was delivered at Charlotte Congregational Church, United Church of Christ on Mother’s Day, 5/8/22.
Dear God,
One needn’t be a mother
just a woman or a girl
to feel the slap, the lash
across the back
that drives us to our knees.
“Down,” it demands,
“fool that you are,
weak, stupid
untrustworthy and lustful.”
The secret is
that down here
we do our best work.
It’s been so through the ages
cleaning up the messes,
planting seeds,
searching for lost coins,
we are powerful on our knees.
Today we come praying,
lamenting, protesting,
pleading, hearts wrung
in desperation and anger.
Holy Mother, source of all
giver of life, sustainer of souls,
help us to face the fear that fuels
the fury
so that consoled by your love
we may rise from our subjugated
state
not with a jerk but with
slow, strong, grounded intention
lifting with us our daughters
granddaughters, nieces, sisters,
aunts, mothers, grandmothers
taking them by the hand,
cradling them in our arms,
promising to stand by them,
work for them,
love them
proclaim their brilliance
as you have done for us.
May your love illumine
a way forward,
for those who would
be mothers and those
who would not,
for all who
are honored to walk
this path in faith and determination.
You have raised us well.
Featured image has no known copyright restrictions and is in public domain: James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Lost Drachma (La drachme perdue), 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 5 x 6 5/8 in. (12.7 x 16.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.93 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 00.159.93_PS2.jpg)
© Rev. Susan Cooke Kittredge, 2022
