The first line is from Sharon Olds’ poem “Blossom Trees.” by Heather Hahn Do we exist to mourn the earth? Not here. Not in this city. We take what we can get and call it good. […]
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With the ongoing struggles to prevent American history from being whitewashed in classrooms, which we’ve recently seen in Trump’s attack on the 1619 Project, we can’t ignore the removal of Beloved from high school curriculums. It’s journey, it seems, is likely not yet over.
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But what does “inappropriate” mean? Too inappropriate for your current age? Inappropriate because of ideals you don’t hold? Suggestive of alternative lifestyles? Yes — to all of the above.
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Lady Liberty
your huddled masses have arrived
and we can’t breathe.
Lady Liberty
You need glasses
If I love Nicaragua, I must criticize Nicaragua — Nicaragua, as a society, as a government — because I care about it. … No healthy patriotism comes from the notion that the things you love are above critique. Where there is injustice, oppression, flawed systems within your society, country, government, religion, family, we must speak out.
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In recognition of Banned Books Week, Sampsonia Way presents a selection of exclusive interviews, excerpts, and profiles of the banned writers who have appeared in our pages – from imprisoned Chinese activists to American poets.
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The first line is from Sharon Olds’ poem “Blossom Trees.” by Heather Hahn Do we exist to mourn the earth? Not here. Not in this city. We take what we can get and call it good. […]
Read more...
With the ongoing struggles to prevent American history from being whitewashed in classrooms, which we’ve recently seen in Trump’s attack on the 1619 Project, we can’t ignore the removal of Beloved from high school curriculums. It’s journey, it seems, is likely not yet over.
Read more...
by Dagny Felker
“The future can wait until next week I’m busy now burning/ the candle at both ends/ or should I say spluttering/ or should I say biting the wick”
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“the protein slapped inside thin elastic pink tracts/ a forgotten closet in her skin tucked into flesh/ in every organ cancerous/ her fetal cells wait/ her skin behind her breast scratched ribs”
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But what does “inappropriate” mean? Too inappropriate for your current age? Inappropriate because of ideals you don’t hold? Suggestive of alternative lifestyles? Yes — to all of the above.
Read more...
by Michael Simms
“When the young man wearing a yarmulke/ Asks Excuse me sir are you Jewish?/ I want to say yes/ I’ve studied history and know/ Something about suffering,/ But that’s not what he means.”
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by Mehrnaz Tiv
“She flows like petals, just as soft and as sweet,/Drowning these western slopes in lush tonics of springtime./June she blooms, then in august she glows./ The pittsburgh sun sticks like jasmine honey.”
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