I started with Women Writing for a Change in the fall of 2007 after doing a weekend retreat they offered. Right away I recognized kindred spirits in the facilitators and innately understood how it all worked. Enrolling that fall seemed a no-brainer. I have never felt as naked, as vulnerable as I did that first semester. Every word seemed to peel off a little more of my skin.
Each class begins with a poem. One of the very first poems Kathy Wade shared was The Book of Hours by Joyce Sutphen. I was inspired by the poem to try to list my best 12 hours. 12 simple memories of light and beauty. I tried and failed to write that piece for days. What I wrote instead was a piece about the shadow hours, my darkest moments. It was a scream in the dark.
I sat on that piece for weeks, afraid to read it to my small group. Compelled by the power of those words, I would eventually do that. My small group then encouraged me to read it at the Public Readaround. I could not bring myself to do it that first semester. Only three other people had heard that piece, until tonight. Four and half years later, I finally read that piece out loud at the public readaround. My small group was right. Those were good and powerful words that I found in the shadows.
I no longer felt naked and vulnerable. I felt strong. I felt heard. I felt empowered.
You raise our standards by reading a piece of that caliber. Thank you...
ReplyDeleteThanks JP. I know Mary Ann talks about sharing the words as a generosity, but to me it is a sublime act of courage and trust.
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