how we survive this Poem

Written by Jolie Brownell

follow the paths through her cornrows, my love.

they may not fully make sense quite yet, but they will set you free.

… march in-step with the rhythms of her demands,

hear how her words echo your humanity.

march on, my love, towards victory. this will set you free.

now, watch the sways of her body,

do not fear the pleasure she finds within herself.

go on and move your own body, my love,

and find your own pleasure in this, this will set you free.

listen to the melodies of her joy,

find the tunes to your own joy,

and revel in the beauty of these sounds,

for they will set you free.

black women:

we have weaved together maps of emancipation,

we have danced pain into songs of freedom,

we have painted entire worlds of salvation

with our laugh.

we

are

the pathways towards liberation.

follow the black women,

follow the black femmes.

this is how we survive this.

Originally written on 7/14/2020