I discovered Mari Evans four years ago when working on a series for Luna Luna Magazine entitled, “A Poet I’ve Never Heard of.” I will post the link below so you can read more about her from my original piece rather than me trying to reinvent the wheel. I will also post a poem not referenced there.
I Am a Black Woman I am a black woman music of my song Some sweet arpeggio of tears is written in minor key And I can be heard humming in the night Can be heard Humming In the night I saw my mate leap screaming to the sea And i/with these hands/cupped the life-breath From my issue I the canebrake I lost Nat’s swinging body in the rain of tears and heard my son scream all the way from Anzio for Peace he never knew….I learned Da Nang and Pork Chop Hill in anguish Now my nostrils know the gas and these trigger tired/fingers seek the softness in my warrior’s beard… I am a black woman tall as a cypress strong beyond all definition still defying place and time and circumstance assailed impervious indestructible Look on me and be renewed…