“Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure.”

“blessing the boats(at saint mary’s)may the tidethat is entering even nowthe lip of our understandingcarry you outbeyond the face of fearmay you kissthe wind then turn from itcertain that it willlove your backmay youopen your eyes to waterwater waving foreverand may you in your innocencesail through this to that”

“they will empty your eyes of everything you love”

“won't you celebrate with mewhat i have shaped intoa kind of life? i had no model.born in babylonboth nonwhite and womanwhat did i see to be except myself?i made it uphere on this bridge betweenstarshine and clay,my one hand holding tightmy other hand; come celebratewith me that everydaysomething has tried to kill meand has failed.”

“dreaming your x-ray vision could see the beauty in me.”

“You might as well answer the door, my child,the truth is furiously knocking.”

“listen,you a wonder.you a city of a woman.you got a geographyof your own.listen,somebody need a mapto understand you.somebody need directionsto move around you.listen,woman,you not a noplaceanonymousgirl;mister with his hands on youhe got his hands onsomedamnbody!”