some poetry by audre lorde

Echo
I hear myself drought caught
pleading a windy cause
dry as the earth without rain
crying love, in tongues of false thunder
while my love waits
like a seeded trap in the door of my house
mouth bound with perfect teeth
sure of their strength on bone
while my love waits
to swallow me whole
and pass me as echos of shadowless laughter
quiet
my love
waits at the door of my house

in my yard myths of rain
hang like a sheet of brick caught silk
torn in the sun


If you come softly
as wind within the trees
you may hear what i hear
see what sorrow sees

If you come as lightly
as threading dew
i will take you gladly
nor ask more of you

you may sit beside me
silent as breath
only those who stay dead
shall remember death

and if you come i will be silent
nor speak harsh words to you
i will not sk you why, now.
or how, or what you do.

we shall sit here, softly
beneath two different years
and the rich earth between us
shall drink our tears.

blessing the boats by Lucille Clifton

(at St. 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

Ballad
by Sonia Sanchez


(after the spanish)


forgive me if i laugh
you are so sure of love
you are so young
and i too old to learn of love.

the rain exploding
in the air is love
the grass excreting her
green wax is love
and stones remembering
past steps is love,
but you. you are too young
for love
and i too old.

once. what does it matter
when or who, i knew
of love.
i fixed my body
under his and went
to sleep in love
all trace of me
was wiped away

forgive me if i smile
young heiress of a naked dream
you are so young
and i too old to learn of love.