My nerves expose, unwilling; these cells & fibers race in transmit; oh impulse of me; skin peeled away, how defense fails; & my eyes, oheyes, in uncontrollable wet; to witness, to experience decimation in the aortic sack; oh society oh; what you cull, piece by piece; what you strip; what grows back only in time, in time; hold these bones up to the light; do you see me in porous cavities forming despite what torn & torn; my flesh under your claws; from hollow & cold & seamless, I rise; sew this heart anew; I long to forgive you. Forgive.
"The palpable lacerations and grief produced by Trump's administration continue to carve from marginalized communities. We forgive a nation through protest; we break its wounding ways; we honor our history of dissent; we demand human rights, justice for Black lives, for all POCs, for trans/queer individuals, for people with disabilities, for women. Our acts of abolition are the truest acts of forgiveness, of love."
Poet laureate Simon Armitage and former children’s laureate Michael Rosen are among the top UK poets decrying the government’s decision to make poetry optional for GCSE students next year, describing it as “a dangerous first step."
Resources for Supporting and Uplifting the Black Community
Black Arts Futures Fund: "Black Art Futures Fund (BAFF) is a collective of emerging philanthropists promoting the elevation and preservation of Black arts & culture. They provide grants to small ($750K or less) nonprofit organizations working to enhance the future of Black arts & culture."
artEquity: "artEquity offers training and consulting services to individuals and organizations on creating and sustaining a culture of equity and inclusion through the arts and culture."
Dismantling Racism Works: "Dismantling Racism Works (dRworks) is pleased to offer our workbook and other resources. We hope you find the material here useful to you, your organization, and your community. "
Poetry Daily stands with the Black community. We oppose racism, oppression, and police brutality. We will continue to amplify diverse voices in the poetry world. Black Lives Matter.
"Mysteriously, the speaker and the friend, and you and I, might become one mind in the poem; we could intuit something illegible but true, together. The energy of our consciousness is trying to make itself known by and against the energy of everything incomprehensible outside it."
