national poetry month, day 5.

This quote was my first introduction to Warsan Shire. My name is difficult. Since I could spell, there has seldom been a day when I didn't need to spell it, or explain how to pronounce it, or answer questions about it. When I was a child, I resented it and adopted a series of nicknames, but eventually I came to love my name, and to understand that names are important. Getting them right is important. I love the idea of my name as both a shield and a challenge. I love that I couldn't find anything anywhere to tell me how to pronounce Warsan Shire's name. Following this quote down an internet rabbit hole, I consumed her entire body of work in less than a month. She's published a collection of poetry called Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth, and she also publishes poems online.

This poem is from her Tumblr. Most of the pieces there are less structured than the works in the book, but I like the way she uses urgency as an element of structure. I also love the use of repetition in any form of writing, so this is the poem I chose for today.

first thought after seeing you smile.

by Warsan Shire

come with every wound

and every woman you've ever loved

every lie you've ever told

and whatever it is that keeps you up at night

every mouth you've ever punched in

all the blood you've ever tasted

come with every enemy you've ever made

and all the family you've ever buried

and every dirty thing you've ever done

every drink that's burnt your throat

and every morning you've woken

with nothing and no one

come with all your loss

your regrets, sins

memories

black outs

secrets

come with all the rot in your mouth

and that voice like needle hitting record

come with your kind eyes and weeping knuckles

come with all your shame

come with your swollen heart

i've never seen anything more beautiful than you.