Audre Lorde's Daughters

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POEM BY SHAKEISHA SLZL LEVENE

PERFORMED AT THE HTSTW LAUNCH PARTY

I go down to the pits

and through

coming up to make rue

and sue those who

Stole the Foal

From the Mother

the Lover from the Other

and the Heart

from the Soul

know the Stripper

on the pole

knows more than you ever will

you being a sill

you can’t set anything upon

know that Darkness

comes before Dawn

Love the Doe

and the Fawn

the Crone

and her Wand

the Wind and the

Witch the

Chant and the Pitch

And whatever you are not

Within

you won’t be

Without

know what you are about

trust the words that come

from your Mouth

and your Throat

and wear a coat in the 

Winter

because it will be

cold 

and in the summer when 

things mold

know that Death is here

and smile

ask Her to stay a while

and touch the Black Unicorn’s

Horn 

feel her wrath-scorn

find out from where and whence she’s 

been torn

ask her why her hair been shorn

so short and without shea

ask her if she will lay with

You

Or rise up

Ask her if times up.

Thumbnail Image by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images 1983