“
Now reading
One Question
All my life I have been trying to answer one question: how to chart battles without starting wars long shot some say to catch that kind of truth place it where anyone can see one day/clear/as morning another afternoon the damn thing black like molasses often the body of it is as thick as love in moments hard as revolution one question: how to fight fire with warmth I am only human a frail light among other lights we all flicker fail each other forgiveness is the thread that will always link us lover mother stranger even them that despise me will only possess me if I do not find a kernel of letting it go if I am to thrive I must plant such a seed water the thing/I must tend it like an unexpected child I have to love it regardless of its genesis fruit of the poisoned tree is still fruit my mother maintains my father raped her what then does she do with me breathing still in defiance of her rejection the prickly part of being an activist is being a writer how do you tell your side of the story without telling your torturer's tale to make the telling good to make it true you have to always ask one question: how do I toe the line? time and time again/you will have to pull back your rage engage the facts lay out the acts of occurrence fuck your own commitment to reverence a balanced hand a nuanced stroke of reportage this is how you say what really happened against your most basic inclination rein in the urge to blast the motherfuckers do not call them motherfuckers if it is stone/call it stone do not even allow for rock or pebble stone-cold the truth be ruthless in your honesty tell only what is necessary to propel the action forward dust your petticoats off stand firm in your platform of integrity when all is said and done let it not be whispered that you were murky in your trust one question should guide you intention or honor glory or gain love or revolution the options are all the same in name or deed the creed must be outside the realm of reproach and if you fuck up you pen your apologies publicize them print them on every page that will allow follow your gut the butt of all truths leads back to your middle fiddle with your listening parts tune in thin the walls that separate you from yourself find that one question answer it if you can plan to spend your whole life telling not only the hardships you have endured but also the terror others have lived through because of you