BROADCASTS.com

b'

In this week's episode of the Get Lit Minute, we discuss the life and work of Safia Elhillo. Included in this episode is a reading of her poem \\u201cOde to Gossips\\u201d - the full poem is available below for reference.\\xa0

"Ode to Gossips"

BY SAFIA ELHILLO

i was mothered by lonely women\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0some

of them wives\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0some of them\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0with

plumes of smoke for husbands\\xa0 \\xa0 all\\xa0 \\xa0 lonely

smelling of onions & milk\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0all mothers

some of them to children some to old names

phantom girls acting out a life\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 only half

a life away\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 instead\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 copper kitchenware

bangles pushed up the arm\\xa0 \\xa0 fingernails rusted

with henna\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 kneading raw meat with salt

with coriander\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0sweating upper lip

in the steam\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0weak tea\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 hair unwound

against the nape\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0my deities\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 each one

sandal slapping against stone heel\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 sandal-

wood & oud\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 bright chiffon spun

about each head\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0coffee in the dowry china

butter biscuits on a painted plate\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 crumbs

suspended in eggshell demitasse\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0& they

begin\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 i heard\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0people are saying

i saw it with my own eyes\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0[\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 ]\\u2019s daughter

a scandal\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 she was wearing [\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 ]

& not wearing [ \\xa0 ]\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 can you imagine

a shame\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0a shame

Support the show