Typing in the Dark

Sharp’s fourth published volume of poetry includes photographs by Calvin R. Hicks, Nathaniel Bellamy, Gerald Cyrus, Adele Hodge, and Sharp. Cover photo by Calvin R. Hicks. We Still Write Love Poems We still write love poems because in the deepest most resonant part of our collective spirit We won’t let love be taken away from us. because it keeps hate from getting out of hand because We have tenure in forgiveness and tenderness as plentiful as mornings. so pin a poem to the lynching tree dance a dance for the spirits at sea give honor to the tribes of Surinam sound the horn for the Bloods of ‘Nam beat the drum for Amistad blow the sax for Soledad ring the bell for the Black Star Line create a praisesong for the Little Rock 9 write rhyme for the daughters of Birmingham make word dance on the graves of Klan haiku for the minds that went away sing the song for Marvin Gaye stomp down strong for Soweto throw the bones for old Jim Crow lay hands on Boston and Bensonhurst chant a chant for democracy’s curse juba back the pain, the fear record the way of our survival here We still write love poems because it heals us coming slow in the day or late in the life bandaging pain and absence because love is the ground on which our soul dances the breath of the womb the silence hovering over the grave We still write love poems -S. Pearl Sharp