Never Again: A Break-up Poem by the “Keep Your Sorry” Rainbow Reclaimers

Never again will i

pretend to want something that i don’t want

pretend to be someone i am not

compromise my well being

hide my pain

settle

apologize for what i need

never again

fighting so much

more processing than lovemaking

being unsupported

lying

betraying

moving too fast

giving up my own bliss, my own path

not being “chosen”

never again

sticking around for the puzzle that doesn’t want to be solved

hoping for my partner to stay frozen or locked in place

never again

hungry-starving for affirmation and acceptance

shame about my own dancing

sleeping with my friends or people i work with

never again

will i betray someone or myself

be duplicitous

accept lies and half-truths

be with someone who makes me feel uninteresting

be with someone just out of a very long relationship

be with someone with no self care hobbies

be with someone selfish in sex

never again will i

equate sex with intimacy

say i’m sorry just to make someone feel better

never again will alcohol abuse or emotional abuse be part of my relationships

i will always trust myself and never lie to myself ever

never again will I dull my light to make you feel more comfortable in the dark

never again will i make myself less amazing and desirable so that you can be worthy of me

never again will i let my desire to be right outweigh your desire to be loved for who you are.

-July 24, 2011  Inspiration Station, Durham, NC

Lex in Atlanta Tomorrow: The Revolution Starts at Home!

 

Wednesday, July 13, 7:30-9pm

Charis Books and More

1189 Euclid Ave. NE Atlanta, GA 30307 (404)524-03

Join us in welcoming back a longtime member of our Charis family, Alexis Gumbs as she reads from her essay in The Revolution Starts at Home and shares some of her strategies and wisdom about creating transformative justice in all of our communities.

Based on the popular zine that had reviewers and fans alike demanding more, The Revolution Starts at Home
finally breaks the dangerous silence surrounding the “open secret” of
intimate violence—by and toward caretakers, in romantic partnerships,
and in friendships—within social justice movements. This watershed
collection compiles stories and strategies from survivors and their
allies, documenting a decade of community accountability work and
delving into the nitty-gritty of creating safety from abuse without
relying on the prison industrial complex.

Fearless, tough-minded, and ultimately loving, The Revolution Starts at Home offers potentially life-saving alternatives for creating survivor safety while building a movement where no one is left behind.

http://www.charisbooksandm​ore.com/book/9780896087941

This event is part of our Organizational and Community Building Project and is co-sponsored by Southerners on New Ground (S.O.N.G.)

Rainbow Reclamations Red: “Keep Your Sorry”-Break Up Poetics

Sunday July 24th 2011

5pm-8pm

Inspiration Station, Durham NC (email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com for directions)

Dedicated to the broken ground of your healing heart! This session for women of color and and feminists of color who do not conform to the gender binary is about lifting up break-up poetics as necessary and transformative clarity that can help us to create the lives, loves, and spaces we deserve! If you have ever been through a break-up, need to transition a relationship or are in the midst of a relationship transition right n…ow come to this event!

By popular demand and with infinite love WE CONTINUE a seven month process called Rainbowed Reclamation, a colorful women of color juicy poetry and food-filled space of sacred discussions that reclaim our bodies, collectivize our spiritual energy and the brilliant choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.

These monthly discussion/rituals are love in practice towards creating a spiritually …aligned, intimately interconnected, queer affirming and self loving community of women of color and genderqueer people of color ready to support each other in transforming the world.

This month’s activity is specifically about visible solidarity as and with sex workers of color. We will be having a ritual and making a banner of belief to place at the site of the Duke Lacrosse House.

*****Please wear RED and bring some food to share if you can. *******

Childcare will be provided!

If you are a woman of color and/or a genderqueer person of color anywhere near Durham…COME! If you are a woman of color and/or a genderqueer person of color anywhere in the world email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com to find out how to host your own event and send folks in North Carolina to us!!! If you are an ally spread the word and please send this to people who need this space!!!!