In those years, people will say, we lost track
of the meaning of 'we,' of 'you'
we found ourselves
reduced to 'I'
and the whole thing became
silly, ironic, terrible:
we were trying to live a personal life
and yes, that was the only life
we could bear witness to
But the great dark birds of history screamed and plunged
into our personal weather
They were headed somewhere else but their beaks and pinions drove
along the shore, through the rags of fog
where we stood, saying I
Adrienne Rich
In Those Years
found on Inward/Outward
3 comments:
brilliant
Thank you Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
I was a young dyke in 1982, just out and full of vigor. You helped me learn about power and the dynamics of power and love. I had rarely read any poetry or prose outside of school - yet your writing called me. You were a part of the fabric of lesbian feminists who set me off to my grown up life with a clearer understanding of the learning that was ahead of me. Thank you and may you be in peace.
The tony winner for best actor last night echoed the same sentiment when he thanked his significant other by saying she helped him change his focus for I to Us and Me to We.
Lovely
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