Man corrupt everything, say Shug. He on your box of grits, in your head, and all over the radio. He try to make you think he everywhere. Soon as you think he everywhere, you think he God. But he ain't. Whenever you trying to pray, and man plop himself on the other end of it, tell him to git lost, say Shug. Conjure up the flowers, wind, water, a big rock.

How sad now never to see men holding hands, while everywhere one looks they are holding guns.

You don't need organized religion to connect with the universe. Often a church is the only place you can go to find peace and quiet... But it shouldn't be confused with connecting with one's spirit.

no person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended. Or who belittles in any fashion the gifts you labor so to bring into the world.

You know a little drink now and then never hurt nobody, but when you can't git started without asking the bottle, you in trouble.

I try to teach my heart not to want things it cant have.

I've found, in my own writing, that a little hatred, keenly directed, is a useful thing.