LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Poetry Submission

Corrie Lawrence

Sister’s Sinew
(Jacob’s Thigh) 

A Labor
Seizure of passion
Warm life spotting pale gown-
Her life

Wolves catch fresh scent,
A Malice-circle swift descending.
But we draw closer in.

Hands clasped,
Fervent savor throne-ward rushing,
We draw in, while
Another-
Greater – sweetly reaches forth,
Drawing near
And nearer-
His cradling boughs
meet soft cries. 

Rest keen, young daughter, as
Boughs of Comfort try
Agony-
Healing Leaf of nations freshly flows,
Reduce heaving crimson’s trace. 

Standing softly,
In rest, wrestling – the joint, the joint is tried. 

New name, for placid face of shriven,
Fettering gown untied - and shed
Give place to Comfort fairly won,
Wrest hard from Blessing’s bough.

by Corrie Lawrence

  A Spiritual  

Beast of burden, groan this song,
You’re with me, O my God.

 The mire is deep, the passage long,
You’re with me, O my God. 

Sun cracks flesh, and tongue cleaves jaw,
You’re with me, O my God. 

Treasure’s lost, though I kept law,
You’re with me, O my God. 

Heel wears path, I see no sign,
You’re with me, O my God. 

Treat them good, they take what’s mine,
You’re with me, O my God. 

Glory, glory – sight’s goin’ dim,
Now here I stand, Grand River to swim. 

This undertow might drag me down,
Still I’d rather lose life than what stands to be found. 

Lord, All my time, Your promise been true,
You’re with me O my God. 

It’s for this moment – I’ve trusted You,
And You’re with me, O dear God.
Relieve me, O dear God.