3 Poems for Resistance and Survival
Finding art as a salve.
How are you doing? Really? I’m trying to find my emotional footing. I’ve been trying to follow my own advice to stay focused, but I’m generally up and down. Thankfully, art is my salvation.
I’ve always enjoyed experiencing art and supporting the creation of it in various ways. But since last year, I’ve been leaning into being more intentional about actually creating art - specifically singing, dancing, and doing comedy.
That’s right. I’ve been taking voice lessons, going to dance classes, and doing improv.
I think, because of this act of bringing my body into art for the first time in decades, it’s opened up a dam for me to better appreciate work in many forms. For most of my life, I’ve gravitated to prose before poetry. And yet, lately, I’m finding comfort and insight in the latter’s short-form of expression.
I’m not writing poems, but I am certainly reading them, over and over again.
In this spirit, I want to share with you three poems I’ve been returning to for the past few weeks:
Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde. This one helps me through the fear that rises in me when I’m afraid to share something I’ve written or accept opportunities to speak in public. This fear comes up for me quite often now, since my work has been blatantly targeted by the US federal government. But then I read this poem and remember that I am only here because people before me refused to be silent.
Praise the Broken Promise of America by Allison Luterman, as posted by Robert Reich. The mix of irony and directness in this poem is unsettling, much like what I’m sensing in the world right now. These words make me feel all the contradictions at once—not only in society, but also in me. (And I like the part about praising the weirdos, because in that line I see myself and you and everyone I love.)
More Notes on Survival by Nikita Gill. I’ve taped this one inside my current journal. It reminds me that my sadness is part of the human experience. I meditate often on this line in particular, “[L]ife promised to be a moving thing.” It reminds me that tunnels are meant to take us somewhere.
I truly hope one of these poems brings you clarity, comfort, or courage.
PS - What type of art are you appreciating or creating that’s helping you ground in these days? Reply this email or share in the comments.
Today I read some Alain Locke before the sun rose and it shaped my whole day. Found a poem by Langston Hughes sung by Nina Simone. Thank you for this collection. They are each in such good company.