Photo: Poets Becca J. R. Lachman and Jeff Gundy. 

Two Mennonite poets—Jeff Gundy and Becca J.R. Lachman—are joining a chorus of writers as part of a Lenten journey hosted by poet Philip Metres. In his latest book, Sand Opera, Metres reflects on the legacy of United States involvement and violence in the Middle East, especially following the attacks on the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001.

His collection of poems includes voices and phrases from interviews with both prisoners and guards at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, the site of multiple human rights violations and torture. Metres writes, “During a Lenten season many years ago—a 40 day season of penitence and fasting observed by many Christian denominations—I awoke early every morning to read through and work with the testimonies of the abused at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. I wanted to face the darkness of this war, a war carried out in our names and in the name of our security.”

During this Lenten season, Metres is posting a poem a day, accompanied by a Scripture verse and a reflection from another writer.

Lachman, communications officer at Athens County (Ohio) Public Libraries and a member at Columbus Mennonite Church, chose to reflect on the poem, “I was planning a lesson on imagery,” which reflects on a poetry teacher’s lesson plan for September 11, 2001.

She joined the project because she was familiar with Metres’ work and welcomed the chance to reflect on violence in a post-9/11 world with an ecumenical group of writers.

“I wanted to be part of a conversation led by writers and poets coming from different faith backgrounds and belief systems,” Lachman wrote in a Feb. 15 e-mail. “This Lent, especially with the images of so many refugees on repeat, I wanted to be more present with what is going on in the world, and to seek a way into praying for justice and compassion instead of wanting to look away. Poetry slows me down and asks me to be in the moment, unlike listening to the news, which usually makes my mind go in a thousand directions.”

Lachman’s reflections will run on March 21.

Gundy, English professor at Bluffton (Ohio) University and a member of First Mennonite Church in Bluffton, welcomed the chance to collaborate with Metres, “a fine poet and a good friend.” Gundy will respond to the poem, “When I Was a Child, I Lived as a Child, I Said to My Dad.” The poem begins with a father and son playing a violent video game together, and moves on to explore the ways violence is present throughout life.

“This project promises to draw in a wide circle of poets and readers for whom these things matter, crossing many of our usual sectarian, ethnic, and racial categories in the process,” wrote Gundy. His reflections will be published March 15.

You can follow the daily Lenten reflections on Metres’ blog, Behind the Lines: Poetry, War and Peacemaking. Lachman is the author of two books, Other Acreage and The Apple Speaks. Gundy is the author of numerous books, including the recently published Abandoned Homeland and Songs from an Empty Cage: Poetry, Mystery, Anabaptism and Peace.