Even when the universe made it quite clear to me that I was mistaken in my certainties ... I did not break. The shattering of my sureties did not shatter me.

they ask me to remember but they want me to remember their memories and I keep on remembering mine

telling the truth about children's lives is radical.

I am a black woman poet and I sound like one.

Come celebrate with me that every day something has tried to kill me and has failed.

Things don't fall apart. Things hold. Lines connect in thin ways that last and last and lives become generations made out of pictures and words just kept.

blessing the boats (at saint mary’s) may the tide that is entering even now the lip of our understanding carry you out beyond the face of fear may you kiss the wind then turn from it certain that it will love your back may you open your eyes to water water waving forever and may you in your innocence sail through this to that