Be who you are and will be <br />learn to cherish <br />that boisterous Black Angel that drives you <br />up one day and down another <br />protecting the ploace where your power rises <br />running like hot blood <br />from the same sourse <br />as you pain. <br /> <br />When you are hungry <br />learn to eat <br />whatever sustains you <br />until morning <br />but do not misled by details <br />simply because you live them. <br /> <br />Do not let you head deny <br />your hands <br />any memory of what passes through them <br />not your eyes <br />nor your heart <br />everything can be used <br />except what is wasteful <br />(you will need <br />to remember this when you are accused of destruction.) <br />Even when they are dangerous examine the heart of those machines you hate <br />before you discard them <br />and never mourn the lack of their power <br />lest you be condemened <br />to relieve them. <br />If you do not learn to hate <br />you will never be lonely <br />enough <br />to love easily <br />nor will you always be brave <br />although it does not grow any easier <br /> <br />Do not pretend to convenient beliefs <br />even when they are righteous <br />you will never be able to defend your city <br />while shouting. <br /> <br />Remember whatever pain you bring back <br />from your dreaming <br />but do not look for new gods <br />in the sea <br />nor in any part of a rainbow <br />Each time you love <br />love as deeply as if were <br />forever <br />only nothing is <br />eternal. <br /> <br />Speak proudly to your children <br />where ever you may find them <br />tell them <br />you are offspring of slaves <br />and your mother was <br />a princess <br />in darkness.<br /><br />Audre Lorde<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-each-of-you/
