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Gumbo Soil | Jacinta V. White


A photo of white hands holding dirt against a blurry, nondescript light brown background. A poem by Jacinta V. White titled "Gumbo Soil" is overlayed and reads: Gumbo soil is great for growing cotton / & blueberries & heirloom roses // but is better for burying the dead / & stories & roots & family ties // & nonsense & quarrels & letters & coins & cigarette butts / & moonshine & past lives & past wives with boyfriends // & all things unspeakable & guilt & sin & worn shoes / & costume jewelry & faux fur & fake identities & hatchets // & all the harsh language ever spoken to you or against you / words that stink & slay & slash & fly out // all which cannot be unburied, deep / memories & gapped smiles & Southern charm // & lopsided history books & roots of willow trees still / trying to speak, if anyone will listen // & letters in boxes under floorboards & bruised photos / & the feet of your too-late lover / standing graveside tearful & empty-handed.

If a line or phrase resonates with you,

we invite you to use it as a starting point to create your own poem.


We welcome you to share your poem with the IPM community here.


This poem was included in IPM's February 2024 Newsletter.

Access the full Newsletter here.

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