Litany for Survival after Audre Lorde

Step down from the backs
You’ve stepped on
And see the pain you’ve caused
The spines you’ve damaged
And the PRINTS you’ve left
And know that you
Weren’t meant
To survive.
Take back the SPIT you SPAT in peoples faces
Give back to those you’ve stolen from
Because you
Weren’t meant
To survive.
Step in that ocean
And see
How far you can GO.

Put your mind on the tip of your tongue
And speak your THOUGHTS.

Hold the world in the palm of your hand

CRUSH it
REBUILD it
Because you
Weren’t meant to survive.