What has Water Washed Away
A collection of writings from the paper boat project writing retreat at Chicot State Park. Published February 2019
A collection of writings from the paper boat project writing retreat at Chicot State Park. Published February 2019
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WHAT HAS WATER<br />
WASHED AWAY<br />
Kitty O’Connor<br />
I was baptized in a hot tub in the backyard of an<br />
evangelical pastor.<br />
I was seven years old, wearing a white shirt that read,<br />
“He is Risen.”<br />
As a baptismal gift, I was presented with a New<br />
American Standard, red letter edition Bible. My name<br />
was imprinted on the front in gold. The Bible itself was<br />
white, a symbol of my purity.<br />
Kathryn, “pure one”.<br />
<strong>What</strong> can wash away my sins? Nothing but the heated<br />
jet-streams of chlorinated water in a pleasure pool.<br />
We desire to wash the intangible away.<br />
Scrub, scour and remove spiritual stains.<br />
Wear down.<br />
Flood.<br />
Flush out and cleanse.<br />
But water doesn’t erase. All things resurface.<br />
Out, damned spot.<br />
Sediment is carried down the river, deposited<br />
somewhere new.<br />
Being displaced is temporary.<br />
<strong>What</strong> is forced out returns.<br />
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