Parting Instructions

I’m a different animal in the winter than I am in the summer. I’m much more introspective, more contemplative at this time of the year — as I’m sure many others are.

When I get in this mood, I turn to poems — mostly, those by other women. Nothing against the many splendid male poets out there, but reading a poem by Sandra Cisneros or Lucille Clifton makes me feel as though I am drawing an auntie in close to me. As though I were laying my head on her lap and listening to her stories, which become my stories, and holding her hand, which becomes my hand.

As 2015 draws to a close, I want to share one of my favorites by Nikky Finney, one of those literary aunties.

You can listen to me read it below:

Apologies for any mispronunciations — just because I can write doesn’t mean I can talk.

And if reading is your preference, here is a link to the poem:

http://newsfrompoems.tumblr.com/post/18500536861/instruction-final-to-brown-poets-from-black-girl