The Massachusetts Review, Inc.

Solstice
Author(s): Audre Lorde
Source: The Massachusetts Review, Vol. 16, No. 2 (Spring, 1975), pp. 369-370
Published by: The Massachusetts Review, Inc.
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Lorde

Audre

SOLSTICE
We
when

to water
the plantain
forgot
our houses were
full of borrowed

and our

the gifts
stomachs with
now
as
who
they pass us
laugh
our
land is barren
because

of

meat

strangers

are choked with

stunted rows
our nightmares
of juicy brown
cannot
fill us.

the farms

of straw

and with

yams

that

rot from
last winter's
roofs of our houses
are
our
broken
but
pots
drinking
we have used them to mourn
of old
the death

The

the next
and our

our footprints
away
have married
them.
beneath

rain will

wash

children
are

Our

skins

They
who

have been
are angered

empty.
vacated
by our

by the spirits
reluctance

to feed them
in baskets

of

straw made

from

sleep

grass

and the droppings of civets

they have been
who are waiting

hidden
away by our mothers
for us by the river.

My skin is tightening
soon I shall shed it
like

a monitor

lizard

like

remembered
at the new moons

comfort

rising
eat the last signs of my weakness
I will
remove
wars
the scars of old childhood

and dare

to enter

the forest

whistling

369

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water
lovers

like a snake

that has

the chameleon

fed

for

changes
I shall be forever.

I never
remember
May
for my
safety
spirit's
I never
may
forget

reasons

the warning
of my woman's
new moon
at
the
weeping
never
I
lose
may
that
which
may
that

flesh

terror
keeps me brave
I owe nothing
I cannot repay.

IN MARGARET'S

GARDEN

I first saw you blooming

the color was
sprang from your rapid hands
protests
set of fingers
like a second
to use
you were
learning

When

the betrayal
of others
in place of your own pain
was smiling
and your mouth
off-center
in the

total

I never

confusion.

saw nor visited

the place where

were

your

by day
swans

conquered.

I met you again

mouth
into aloneness
had centered
your
come
said
had
you
you
apart
but your earth had been nourished
into a new garden
smells.
of strong

But

when

370

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now