Combahee Survival: Publishing...a Poetic Break

[Lex]

“We feel that it is absolutely essential to demonstrate the reality of our politics of other Black women and believe that we can do this through writing and distributing our work. The fact that individual Black feminists are living in isolation all over the country, that our own numbers are small, and that we have some skills in writing, printing and publishing makes us want to carry out these kinds of projects as a means of organizing Black feminists as we continue to do political work in coalition with other groups.”

Complete the poem:


feel
absolutely

reality
writing
fact


living
small
skills

carry continue

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[mk]

i feel like a bird
absolutely free of all cares
but in reality
i'm only free in my writng
in the words i place on paper
that becomes a world free of facts and stats
a world where the living look to those before
for answers, guidance, wisdom
a world where even the small
are heard
and no voices are silenced
a world where worth isn't based on skills
rather
your heart

mk

[Soraya]

feel

absolutely feel beautiful

reality is not always clear

writing time on our bodies

fact is- time is the gift of the living

small is not an option

skills of living are learned

carry and continue the gift of living