Pantoum for Bilquis and Hajara
Two of my daughters are 11 months apart. This is the time of year where they will soon be the […]
Black women writers
Staying Grounded
Who knows how exactly to do this in a world where so much of what we consume is designed to
Grief Paints, Too
My mom’s birthday. My dad’s death and me somewhere in between remembering.
Tough
A reflection on being labeled “tough” in academia. I reject this and emphasize my desire for students to feel nurtured and excited in my classes. My true personality is soft and loving. I am not an oppressive stereotype.
Today’s Truth
Three months ago, I struggled with grief and dismay about a tragic death. Attending a joyous wedding recently brought me a sense of hope and gratitude, but also heightened the awareness of societal injustices and the need to work for a better world for future generations.
Stevie and the Goodbye Summer
A small and drafty piece about a long and difficult summer that I only survived by having my Stevie Wonder songs at the ready. I’ll edit eventually. Sometimes you just gotta get it on a page.
Mother’s Day with Jesmyn Ward
Well, it’s the day after Mother’s Day but I know the holiday will be on my mind tonight when she
Interview With the Vampire and Me
Am I going to watch season one of the new Interview with the Vampire TV Series a 3rd time? This is the question I’m trying to answer in between parenting, meetings, classes and my “real” writing projects. The answer is yes.
How it felt to read “Big Girl” with my daughter…
What Sullivan offers us big girls through Malaya with so much care and love is a reminder of our agency.
My Pittsburgh in a Pantoum
This is the first draft of a poem I’m working on about the tension Black womxn in Pittsburgh sometimes feel about the perennial question of whether to stay or leave what has been documented as one of the worst cities for us.