Reminiscing Eden

by Melanie Chuh

Away from You, Father, 

wanted nowhere, I wander,

Where is home?

wanted nowhere, I wonder,

What is home?

I sought refuge in You, but now,

clothed in cotton and polyester shame 

so unfamiliar to me,

Your words ring in my ears—

Where are you?

What have you done?

Cursed, 

cursed, 

cursed 

am I, 

the woman. Woman is simply Adam’s scapegoat, 

rib ripped away to bear man’s fault on her back,

the serpent’s prop who took the first bite —

the first step away

and onto the boat, the train, the plane;

towards painful toil, living by the sweat of her brow —

the first refreshing glimpse past

the mugunghwa, its melody 

forcing her face to the flag, one aching arm over her chest 

like a marionette, the other cradling the next generation…

Lord, I pray:

don’t let them fall like I have.

Never again.