Jason Murray        

North and South

January 20, 2011

I am Southern, I am Northern

I am the Northwest.

We came here before

The country we now pledge allegiance to

Was even an idea.

I am the pursued, the hunted, the annihilated.

I am the pursuer, the hunter,

I am father, I am husband,

I have one hand in a novel

While the other stirs a bubbling pot.

I read Vonnegut amongst the smells of chiles,

and burnt butter.

I am bent over school work as a clock tells me

It’s time to take the dinner out.

This is where I have been, to where

I have come.

From Europe’s second sons,

And religious minority,

To this kitchen, this meal, this paper, this book.