mnLIT presents: Darci Schummer
This week's mnLIT-winning poem, "Archaeology" by Darci Schummer, was selected by What Light juror, poet Deborah Keenan.
ARCHAEOLOGY
Behind the backyard,
but before the alfalfa fieldlay the undefined terrain where
the soil was heavy, made of orange clay.We were always digging,
but for what?Names, stories, once removed by dirt,
twice by religion, three times by silence.You found a doll’s head,
an ink bottle,a rotting shoe.
Of course there was alwaysthe dead bird. The one
neither buried, nor baredthat we watched year after year
with reverence,until finally, there was
nothing left.
*****
Juror commentary: “Archaeology” was selected by What Light juror Deborah Keenan, who writes, “This poem does many things beautifully. Large, important words — religion, reverence, stories, names, silence — are introduced effortlessly into the poem. The collective voice includes us all in the mystery of what we bury, what we find, and what we decide to treat with reverence and respect.”
About the poet: Darci Dawn Schummer is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFA program. She primarily writes short fiction, but she enjoys the challenge of writing poetry. And she enjoys letting a good poem roll over her while she walks along a coastline, strolls through a park, or sits beneath tree. She teaches English at Globe University.
About her poetry, Schummer writes: “What I find so fascinating about poetry is its economy, its attention to word choice. I have tried to cultivate the poet’s eye, paying careful attention to each word I choose, no matter what genre I’m working in. Attempting this cultivation has been invaluable to me as a writer. As a teacher, I incorporate poetry into my lessons to show my students the difference that one word can make.”
______________________________________________________
mnartists.org is a joint project of the Walker Art Center and the McKnight Foundation
Membership on mnartists.org is FREE. Find step-by-step instructions for how to join and how to use the free resources available on the site. If you need assistance, contact Will Lager at info@mnartists.org. Any Minnesota resident is eligible to participate in mnartists.org’s mnLIT competitions for poetry and fiction; there are no entry fees, and writers at all levels of skill and experience are welcome to enter work for consideration by a revolving panel of established authors and publishing professionals in mnLIT’s blind adjudication process.
______________________________________________________
