GOOSEBUMPS!!!! your voice reflects so passionately in this. i feel like i can actually hear you speaking. i got teary eyed. the anger and hurt that is felt for every woman that has felt this way. we come from many backgrounds and cultures but this feeling as a woman of color is universal. thank you for sharing such a vulnerable and raw piece. also the way you are able to talk about something so painful and still string it in such a beautiful visual and poetic way is just chef kiss ❣️✨🤌🏽
I saw myself — my child self, and my adult self who struggled this whole lifetime to be free — in so much of what you shared. I lean further into my womanhood despite all the opposition that still exists around us. Thank you for sharing this beautiful reclamation of self.
QuYahni, this was so meaningful to me. Thank you sincerely for reading and sharing your thoughts with me. I am reminded each day of how similar our experiences are as women, despite the different places we are all born and brought up in. Cheers to a life of unafraid liberation.
Very well said Esther! I echo that, and I just want to add that I'm very impressed by the stylistic choice to repeat "Devi!" in the fifth paragraph. Something about it reminded me of movie scenes where the main dialogue is happening in the forefront, but in the background someone is doing a dance, or playing a drum, and the dialogue is punctuated by the drum being hit periodically, or when the dancer completes a movement. It does a great job of punctuating what's going on here emotionally, and I feel like it really elevates the literary quality of the piece.
Thank you so so much for this thoughtful and reflective comment. I used to do performance poetry and I think that specific word placement was a subconscious choice to have the contextual layers embedded in one’s memory visually while reading (if I was performing, I would have “Devi!” chanted at the back)- I didn’t realise anybody would read so deeply as to notice it. Again, thank you so much for reading- I am so grateful for your time! 🫶🏽
GOOSEBUMPS!!!! your voice reflects so passionately in this. i feel like i can actually hear you speaking. i got teary eyed. the anger and hurt that is felt for every woman that has felt this way. we come from many backgrounds and cultures but this feeling as a woman of color is universal. thank you for sharing such a vulnerable and raw piece. also the way you are able to talk about something so painful and still string it in such a beautiful visual and poetic way is just chef kiss ❣️✨🤌🏽
Thank you so much for reading and this beautiful comment! I feel the love Kass. This is us transmuting <3 Sending you a big hug.
I saw myself — my child self, and my adult self who struggled this whole lifetime to be free — in so much of what you shared. I lean further into my womanhood despite all the opposition that still exists around us. Thank you for sharing this beautiful reclamation of self.
QuYahni, this was so meaningful to me. Thank you sincerely for reading and sharing your thoughts with me. I am reminded each day of how similar our experiences are as women, despite the different places we are all born and brought up in. Cheers to a life of unafraid liberation.
This is the type of writing that needs to be read aloud by candlelight while casting a spell.
Sasadya!!! Don’t make me cry at work now girl 😭😭😭
Very well said Esther! I echo that, and I just want to add that I'm very impressed by the stylistic choice to repeat "Devi!" in the fifth paragraph. Something about it reminded me of movie scenes where the main dialogue is happening in the forefront, but in the background someone is doing a dance, or playing a drum, and the dialogue is punctuated by the drum being hit periodically, or when the dancer completes a movement. It does a great job of punctuating what's going on here emotionally, and I feel like it really elevates the literary quality of the piece.
Thank you so so much for this thoughtful and reflective comment. I used to do performance poetry and I think that specific word placement was a subconscious choice to have the contextual layers embedded in one’s memory visually while reading (if I was performing, I would have “Devi!” chanted at the back)- I didn’t realise anybody would read so deeply as to notice it. Again, thank you so much for reading- I am so grateful for your time! 🫶🏽
Appreciate you both so very much. Thank you for listening to my music <3
Esther 🥹 thank you so much for reading, this is so kind. I can’t wait to read your essay too. I’m glad my words resonated!🩵