Thursday, November 17, 2011

whirlwind for the warrior healers

to the warrior healers organizing trust

notes from post-tornado Durham


with Audre Lorde in transition

after Gwendolyn Brooks


“You have enabled yourself to prove of incalculable aid to many, many women—not just today’s women, but women down the ages...I am have been and always will be proud of you.”

Gwendolyn Brooks to Audre Lorde


“This is the urgency: Live!

and have your blooming in the noise of the whirlwind.”

-Gwendolyn Brooks “Second Sermon on the Warpland


i.

brook open stream woke


this is how we conduct our blooming

brash and gentle at kitchen tables

falling apart

on living room floors

noise and whip and head turned around

did you just say…


something scattered here

(our several dreams)

played into particles

stepped and stepped over it

trip and trip over

trip over

over

done

something flew apart


arrival is in the instant of yes


glitter your hands with the grace of grief

knot your hair with knowing

never meant to hold money

never meant to braid it into noose

never knew another way was

blooming


ii.

warrior healer be we

who know

how to go there

and when


warrior healer be we

who wont be who we are

until we are


warrior healer be

we who don’t know what

to say

until we say


who speak

when voice shake

better be

we


say this

warrior healer be


yes

just be


warrior healer be


iii.

salvation salvaged

medication defined

stylized splendor

for Bessie and we


iv.

warrior poet be watching

smiling sometime

laughing


warrior mother poet be

looking down

picking up


wind



love,

lex

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