What to do with truth: An exchange
Kinship: Part 4
An exchange: Kinship
Today, I am excited to publish Part 4 of An exchange, a side of the Poetry & Process newsletter where artists explore a topic through an exchange of their art. An exchange was first announced to the Poetry & Process community in an April 2024 Reflection essay on the poem Promises.
This month’s exchange is on the topic of Kinship, a series of six pieces written over the past four months, poems from Brian Funke, author of Poetry & Process, and Katharine Beckett Winship, author of Matters of Kinship. A newsletter will be published daily for six days, exploring different aspects of Kinship, each publication responding to and building on the prior piece from the collaborating artist. Read along and consider what truth means to you, and in what ways it comes into the world.
I hope you enjoy this collaborative effort on Kinship…today’s poem from Brian, and the art from Katharine.
Kinship: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
What to do with truth
Brian Funke
Sing truth in the way one sings a melody that floats above a dissonant chime blown by a northerly wind in late summer. Touch truth in the way one touches a fine piece of furniture, hand caressing the top then run down the side all while crouched low with eyes lost in years of grain. Carry truth in the way one carries a heavy load, light on the shoulders and heavy on the hips for it will be a long journey. Taste truth in the way one tastes a delicate dish prepared for only two bites, first for surprise and second to remember. Spit truth in the way one spits without hesitation when startled by spoiled fruit that the tongue cannot tolerate, even as it catches in your beard. Hear truth in the way one hears a hawk scream, pierced ear from above and silent winged shadow on the pavement, claws and snake in a clenched dance. See truth in the way one sees the bright of the sun create every color in a palate yet renders one momentarily sightless when stared at incessantly. Bury truth in the way one buries a seed in the spring knowing shit, soil, water, and sun will spur germination but weed or tree depends on the seed. Cut truth in the way one cuts through oceans with a chef’s knife to divide salt into bite sized morsels knowing oceans cannot be portioned. Speak truth in the way one speaks with every sound a fiber woven as the voice of creation, each mumbling an epitome of the greatest dissertation.
Thank you for reading Part 4 of Kinship! Please leave a comment about what strikes you, speaks to you, or stirs in you while you read. Perhaps consider and share an experience of truth that you have held, felt, or shared.
Part 5 of the exchange will be published tomorrow! If you’ve missed any parts, you can navigate to them using the links towards the top of the newsletter.
May truth touch every one of your senses…
Brian
“…prepared for only two bites,
first for surprise and
second to remember.”
Such care and devotion in this 💛
Brian, as we worked on this project, I’ve witnessed your poem often. Yet this morning, the power of your words touch me as if reading anew. Your active verb choices are elegant. Merci.🌱