When love leaps form my mouth
cadenced in that Grenada wisdom
upon which I first made holy war
then I must reassess
all my mother’s words
or every path I cherish
Like everything else I learned from Linda
this message hurtles across still uncalm air
silent tumultuous freed water
descending an imperfect drain.
I learn how to die
from your many examples
cracking the code of your living
heroisms collusions invisibilities
constructing my own
book of your last hours
how we tried to connect
in that bland spotless room
one bright Black woman
to another bred for endurance
for battle
island women make good wives
whatever happens they’ve seen worse…
your last word to me was wonderful
and I am still seeking the rest
of that terrible acrostic
—audre lorde, legacy—hers.
