I recently rediscovered Sojourner Songs, a volume of poems by Ben Palpant. Once again I was struck by the quality of the poetry and the joy of reading it. Here’s a favorite example titled “Shall I Bare My Arms?”
What can I offer
for the expiation
of a lifetime’s sin?Shall I bare my arms
and count the scars?
Or offer up my son
on an altar built,
stone by stone
with my own hands?
Or wear a shirt of camel hair?
Or pull out this heart
with my bare hands?No.
You said, “It is finished.”And I believe you.
So I’ve brought my mason jar
full of sea glass and a handful of coins
to pour out on your table
as thanks.
Sojourner Songs is well worth the purchase at Amazon.
