i came across a-dziko simba's poem woman talk in watchers and seekers, an anthology of creative writing by black women living in britain. it moved me in a way no poem has before. it reminded me to be, like audre, 'deliberate and afraid of nothing', to seek community, and to live a full and authentic life. i wanted to share that feeling with other people. i hope that when you taste my food, follow my recipes, listen to the podcast or attend an event, you’ll feel the same hope, the same love, and the same joy that i continue to feel.
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since launching sisterwoman i have had the honour of meeting a-dziko and staying with her in her beautiful home in the jamaican bush. when we first met i instantly burst into tears with gratitude, our meeting an affirmation of the journey i continue to be on.
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gather your people.
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break bread together.
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talk about the pleasure, talk about the pain.
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find peace.
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saf
x
woman talk
~
a-dziko simba
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sisterwoman sisterwoman
talk about the pleasure
talk about the pain
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don’t save up your emotion for a stormy day
don’t let pent-up anger reign
rain, reign, rain, reign, rain
down
on the ones you love
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take that feeling
don’t fake that feeling
make that feeling your own
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sisterwoman sisterwoman
talk about the pleasure
talk about the pain
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don’t hide your feelings behind blank eyes
(a thin disguise for your hurt)
don’t cry
behind closed doors
don’t try
to smother the sobbin
the sobbin, the sobbin, the sobbin, the sobbin,
the sobbin and the heavin
of a million tear-filled moments
strangled into silence.
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take that feeling, don’t fake that feeling
make that feeling your own
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sisterwoman sisterwoman
talk about the pleasure
talk about the pain
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and when joy and laughter overwhelms you
and threatens to split you from head to toe
let them know
throw back your head open your mouth
and laugh laugh
LAUGH OUT LOUD
let the highest leaf on the tallest tree
let the smallest ant in the deepest valley dance
to the rhythms of your fun
take that feeling
don’t fake that feeling
make that feeling your own
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sisterwoman sisterwoman
talk about the pleasure
talk about the pain
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and sisterwoman know yourself
and sisterwoman feel yourself
and sisterwoman be yourself
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and
sisterwoman
find
peace.
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a poem should happen to you like cold water or a kiss.
~
ntozake shange