“has your father ever” by Martha Schaller

Martha Schaller is a rising junior at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, studying English, Creative Writing, and German.  She grew up in Southwest Michigan, and her family now lives in Eau Claire, WI.  Martha has been writing poetry for nine years and enjoys writing on the topics of faith, growing up, memories, and relationships.  When she's not writing poetry, Martha enjoys photography, reading, and trying new restaurants with her friends.

Artist’s Statement: ““With this poem, the author wishes to convey the constant and heavy stressors of a pastor, or someone in the public ministry. The weight of believing that one’s actions have consequences into the afterlife or eternal life is the feeling of dread the author hopes to evoke here.”