Of Women and Spirit
For Julie Dash, Inspired by the Film Daughters of the Dust
By Kamaria Muntu
Dare to sketch Gullah scapes
to wade uncharted water where no flotilla ventures
Let Chango lay the light of his fire on this water
until it glistens like spinster crystal
Go deep into the greenness
into the patois of snails, frogs, sea turtles and crabs
Inherit the swamp hip and okra stomp
Glide the glades of Damballah chants
Now…
lay your camera on the women
Pride them with the beholding eyes of Sunday suitors
Arrest a medicine wheel of color godspells
A cotillion of gumbo spice
their hair
their skin
their walk of waves
Veiled Osun golding the salty air
a delt vamp
Impel the mystique of clouds rising like cream
above the gelatin ocean
Implore the dewy nipples of Yemaya
and Elegba’s smiling guile
Spy the children dancing their lyric in sand
Secret ceremonies with flying fish
Witness prodigal gulls wailing their mercies
across azure sky fields
As Oya’s lightning bolt strikes the fever of crossing
We gather the dust of our essence
in our hands
and import our pasts in glass jars
with no seals
————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Kamaria Muntu © 1996 . First published 1998 in Call and Response: The Riverside Anthology of the African-American Literary Tradition.
Femficatio 
Thanks Margie, I am both heartened and saddened by this comment. Often it is difficult to write from a deep Black woman consciousness in a world where more “popular” sounds win the day. Career wise I’m learning that we all have to be ambidextrous, yet I like the place I was in when I wrote that poem. It continues to represent the essence of who and what I am. This is why Coal is so necessary and must be supported – as a matter of fact that is true for all alternative expressions as you know from the work you’re engaged in. We most assuredly need venues that allow for authentic voicing in opposition to “writing the agenda.” We cannot afford to lose the richness of sound that is the heart of organic culture,that is nothing short of prayer. KM
Thank you for that perspective. I was not familiar with the climate of the web in
terms of bloggers 10 years ago, but without being too essentialist, I think this may have something to do with some of them becoming famous. It would seem that fame and collectivism are incompatible with how present day society is constructed. This doesn’t have to be the case of course, but the whole thing of exceptionalism has people vying to be worshiped as opposed to interacting with other humans on equal footing.There is no shortage of commentary on celebrity sites. We are by the way intrigued and enriched by your site as well, yet if intellectual passion does not bring with it the paparazzi mapping one’s every step, many folks just don’t think its worthwhile. Forgive the nihilism, one of those days, Thanks again for the kind words and keep making us think. Respect and admiration, KM .
This poem moves thru the ages…it has a feeling of liberation as the Orisha breathe and take a snapshot of what is real to mix and fuse with the surreal “essence” of woman’s spirit. thank you for sharing this poem…it reminds me of my power…our power as women. Thanks Kamaria
I understand. What’s difficult is the anonymity of the web seems more and more to preclude interaction and validation. Ten years ago it seemed the community was much more open and active. I’m not sure if there is just so much information and creative talent, or if it is just laziness that keeps people from acknowledging another’s existence. These blogs have even over the years grown in size and numbers of participants, yet the interaction has grown smaller and smaller till even the likes etc. come rarely.
When something strikes a cord in me I do my best to affirm this and recognize it. Your site is one that empowers us. And, yes, we all need acknowledgment and validation, a sense of touch and interaction that extends the hand of sociality even if figuratively. Remember that ultimately what matters is that this is your being confronting the vibrancy of the others who may not acknowledge but still may need what you are as you are… keep the duende moving…
Thank you so much Noir-Realism. When someone takes the time to think seriously about your work, it validates, affirms – gets you through the dark obscure days. J.D. Salinger said people never notice anything … guess that’s not always true.
empowering! one feels, not sees the power… it moves me…
The final lines gather the fullness of this ancient herstory in the subtle elegance of ritual that binds and unbinds that essence that cannot be sealed nor forgotten:
We gather the dust of our essence
in our hands
and import our pasts in glass jars
with no seals