Prodigal: Greta Sorensen, and: Paradise Lost

Prodigal: Greta Sorensen

If she stepped onto a truss, looked down, between her feet, if she studied the rocks, the river’s split and pull, and looked into the trees, did they drag like drapes or blow like horses along the road, how far back did the cottonwoods grow, and if she hid in a culvert, did she crouch till dark, whom did she follow, who followed her, did she want bread, did she want salt, she counted the ties, how far did she go, did she hear the men straightening the tracks, she heard the rhythm of their rods, did she eat cattail, fireweed, she was unrecognizable, Lula, Lula, don’t you know, she swelled like a river, she swept everything in, curtains and chairs, a trail of mud and mold on the walls, and that feeling of falling, of being trapped in a well, she was grabbed by the hair, did it make her want to be without a body, leave it behind like a skirt on the floor, be sinew and bone, be breath and flushed those times she couldn’t stand her own skin, and did she think the water might hold her in its shift and swirl, fit an end to the story like a dressmaker’s form, as if what’s left is that space, the air in the cage, and she’s night threatening rain, a cloud charged with light, a swoop of smoke and hooves.

Paradise Lost

Greta Sorensen

Yes, I’m real happy on the road. I don’t want any assaults— outside of that, I’ve been happy.

                [What is the most pleasant thingthat happened to you?]            When I was hungry and someone gave mesomething to eat.        [Anything else?]                It is pleasant to go from town to town.

[What is the toughest experience you’ve had?]                    When I can’t find any waterand want to get clean. When I am pushed, I go to a house and ask if I can wash.

[What is the most dangerous thing on the road?]                    People don’t realize the dangersin falling off trains and how the cars can throw you.                        [Did you ever hop a trainwhile in motion?]        Twice. A man grabbed me each timeand pulled me on.        [Can you make it in a boxcar by yourself?]I can jump, but it’s hard to push the doors back. A girl mighty nearneeds a man do that. Even men get help.

[Weren’t you afraid of so many men close at night?]Some men protect me—            like some countrieshave a protectorate.         [Do you think you have lost anything mentallyor physically living this way?]            No, I think it has been more of a gain.My mind is more developed.

[What did you do with all the time you had on the road?]                    We talked mostly.[What else?]    Read.        [Read what?]            Books.                [What books?]                    The Bible. Poems.[What poems?]    Paradise Lost—