For Each of You

Be who you are and will be
learn to cherish that boistrous Black Angel that drives you
up one day and down another
protecting the place where your power rises
running like hot blood
from the same source
as your pain.

When you are hungry
learn to eat
whatever sustains you
until morning
but do not be misled by details
simply because you live them.

Do not let your head deny
your hands
any memory of what passes through them
nor your eyes
nor your heart
everything can be useful
except what is wasteful
(you will need
to remember this when you are accused of destruction.)

Even when they are dangerous
examine the heart of those machines you hate
before you discard them
and never mourn the lack of their power
lest you be condemned
to relive them.

If you do not learn to hate
you will never be lonely enough
to love easily
nor will you always be brave
although it does not grow any easier

Do not pretend to convenient beliefs
even when they are righteous
you will never be able to defend your city
while shouting.

Remember our sun
is not the most noteworthy star
only the nearest.

Respect whatever pain you bring back
from your dreaming
but do not look for new gods
in the sea
nor in any part of a rainbow
Each time you love
love as deeply
as if it were forever
only nothing is eternal.

Speak proudly to your children
where ever you may find them
tell them
you are the offspring of slaves
and your mother was
a princess
in darkness.

- Audre Lorde
in From a Land Where Other People Live

I post this poem here because something is happening in the universe and a bunch of friends need to hear sections of this poem - one friend needs the section about hating, another friend needs the section about being hungry, another friend could use the don't look for new god(dese)s in the sea part (then again, why shouldn't he enjoy the new goddess in the sea? I say, go straight to the love as deeply as if it were forever part).

I also post this poem here because I need it myself, I need the part where I must respect whatever pain I brought back from my dreaming. But, like I said, something is happening in the universe. The next time I love, it's going to be as if it were forever. The universe should get ready.