Joanne Grumet - Exegesis

In seven succinct lines, poet Joanne Grumet explores the relationship between language and faith with her poem “Exegesis”. The title of this poem alone allows the reader a somewhat critical eye toward the interpretation of scripture, in this case Genesis. The couplets of “Exegesis” give space to some of the contradictions therein, as well as the very essence of faith, a resignation or acceptance that as “Man”, we may never have the answer, or perhaps we are the answer in itself.

Exegesis

Man was created in God’s image
as was the universe

And God was created
in man’s image

Words expand our understanding
and limit it

In the beginning was the Word

Joanne Grumet

Joanne Grumet’s training and professional life have been in Linguistics. She started writing poetry later in life. Her chapbook Garden of Eve was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021, and her poems have been published in the United States, India and Israel and can be found in the archives of the Brooklyn Museum.