South Carolina’s Poet Laureate, Marjory Wentworth, wrote the poem
“One River One Boat” exclusively to be read yesterday
at our state governor’s inauguration.

Unlike previous inauguration committees,
this year’s committee decided
not to include the poem citing time as the issue.

“One River One Boat” deserves to be heard.
South Carolina’s US Congressman Jim Clyburn
read it on the US House floor yesterday
and admitted it into congressional record.
See a video of his comments and his reading of the poem here.

Another of my state’s citizens
was moved to do her own reading of the poem.
Brenda Peart. I hope you don’t mind my including
a link to your reading here. 

Thank you Brenda, Thank you Rep. Clyburn. Thank you, Marjory.

This will get you started … please link and read through to the end:

One River, One Boat

I know there’s something better down the road.
— Elizabeth Alexander

Because our history is a knot
we try to unravel, while others
try to tighten it, we tire easily
and fray the cords that bind us.
The cord is a slow moving river,
spiraling across the land
in a succession of S’s,
splintering near the sea.

read on ….

Marjorie Wentworth is a beautiful writer.
My favorite poem of hers is Dancing Barefoot in Atlanta.
Find it and others in Undefined Magazine page 49.
Find an article about Marjorie Wentworth on page 43.
And, Marjory’s website features
her poetry, blog, and writing about being a writer.