by Lorraine Bayset, Tidewater NOW

On January 20th, 2001, Tidewater NOW sponsored its first feminist poetry reading. In recognition of this event, we pause to acknowledge womyn who write in the language of liberation. It may come as a surprise to many, that a female poet is not necessarily a feminist poet, no more than a female Supreme Court Justice is necessarily a feminist Supreme Court Justice.

Throughout the ordinary schooling process, students are exposed to primarily white, male, mainstream writers. A small percentage of womyn writers are taught, but many of these womyn are far from feminists. Feminist poets are not common. They are not traditional. They are not very often cited. They are very often brash, abrasive and colloquial. Feminists poets often challenge the norm and for this they are spurned. Perhaps you have a favorite feminist poet. Perhaps, you haven’t the foggiest. This month we celebrate a few well known feminists poets:

Bogus, Diane A. - I Am Off to See the Goddamn Wizard
Lorde, Audre - The Black Unicorn
Parker, Pat - Jonestown and Other Madness
Pratt, Minnie Bruce - Crimes Against Nature
Rich, Adrienne - A Wild Patience Has Taken Me This Far

A QUICK QUOTE:
 
..... may I never lose
that terror
that keeps me brave” ..... ”Solstice” The Black Unicorn Audre Lorde

We are, whether we are mindful of it or not, in the midst of a time-consuming revolution. Many of the battles are personal and private. They are oftentimes mundane. Shall I do what I am told? Shall I be who I am told to be? Shall I surrender my identity? Shall I serve? Fearlessness is a necessity. Feminist poets authenticate our daily female experiences in a language and with an urgency that we can understand. May we all read well and grow strong.