A Reading: Poetry Is Not A Luxury

A reading of Lorde's call for self-examination through creation.

I think it’s been about 13 weeks of publishing on this platform and challenging myself to critically engage with what I consume and create something based on it.

Just the practice of writing and publishing here so far has given me a renewed perspective on the courage it takes to put something, anything, out into the world and an appreciation for the fact any produced effort or creative work, no matter how rotten or weak an unappreciative person may judge it to be- represents the fear, doubt, and indecision that was overcome by the creator to make it as well as the self-belief and faith it took to initiate. It is this sensory experience of feeling and deep emotional knowing, something that occurs beyond the realm of intellect, and that only comes through creative practices taken up for their own sake- not limited to art, but any generative practice that requires emotional engagement (it could be gardening or mechanics), that Audre Lorde is referring to in her essay Poetry Is Not A Luxury (you can read the full essay HERE).

I know Lorde to be a prominent writer and social activist but I’m not yet that familiar with her work. Last week in the library I came across Sister Outsider- a collection of her essays and speeches in which Poetry Is Not A Luxury is one.

She begins:

And then says:

——

In the writing of poetry, Lorde tells us she accesses the formless, mysterious intelligence contained within her own human emotion and imagination- a source of illumination and understanding in her life that is much more potent and imbued with truth than the man-made ideas and schools of thought we are taught to value above all else in modern, capitalistic societies.

Our common ancestors once regarded this source of understanding with reverence but it has since become subordinated to egoic, man-made concepts, theories, and notions of understanding.

In this essay, Lorde urges us to cast a divine light on our lives through a generative practice- whatever form it takes. Hers happens to be poetry. When you do- it will not be a luxury, it will not be a wanton display or an idle waste of time- as the arts or any activity not principally done for economic remuneration is often regarded- it will be essential and it will lead you to places the brain or heady, intellectual pursuits can’t.

On Hiatus

I plan to take Lorde up on her suggestion and sometimes generating doesn’t always look like producing. As Julian Cameron says in The Artist’s Way (another great read btw): often times the most generative practice is to pause and just listen to your own voice.

So for the next two months, this publication will be a short hiatus as I turn my attention to other responsibilities (ugh) but also turn my attention to that dark and formless place referred to by Lorde.

Bye for now <3