For Those of Us Forced to Flee | Jane Muschenetz
For those of us forced to flee,
the world is forever shrinking down
to a single question:
What can you carry?
The suitcase of your heart closed tight
on all the things there was no room to bring—
your memories of “home,” the snowflake moments
of your youth, the blooming Lilac tree
outside your bedroom window…
a heavy burden
saps your strength on a long journey,
bring only what you need—
homes can be built again, a new tree can be rooted
Survive
When you have nothing left to plant, become the seed
“For Those of Us Forced to Flee” by Jane Munschenetz was the winner of the 2022 HoneyBee Prize for Poetry selected by Kwame Dawes. Here’s what Mr. Dawes had to say about the poem:
The final line is a remarkable turn of phrase that captures, it seems, the core sentiment of the work: “When you have nothing left to plant, become the seed.” The poem is a work about exile, but the specifics of this exile are laid out in the broader sense of implication if not in a statement about physical migration. The poem celebrates survival and speaks to the demands of the “alien”, the “exile”, the “refugee”, the “migrant”.
More about the author, Jane Mischenetz:
Jane Muschenetz is a Jewish refugee from Soviet Ukraine, who arrived in the US as a child. Recognized in 2023 for Excellence in Poetry Performance by the County of San Diego, she is a 2023 City of Encinitas Exhibiting Artist. Jane’s debut poetry collection, All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents (Kelsay Books, 2023), is a Readers’ Favorite 5 Star Book and finalist for the Jacar Press Chapbook Prize. Her upcoming poetry collection, Power Point, is forthcoming from Sheila-na-gig in 2024. Connect with Jane and her work at http://www.palmfrondzoo.com.