from To the Diaspora
To Prisoners
I call for your cultivation of strength in the dark.
Dark gardening
in the vertigo cold.
In the hot paralysis.
Under the wolves and coyotes of particular silences.
Where it is dry.
Where it is dry.
I call for you.
cultivation of victory Over
long blows that you want to give and blows you are going to get.
Over
what wants to crumble you down, to sicken
you. I call for you
cultivation of strength to heal and enhance
in the non-cheering dark,
in the many many mornings-after;
in the chalk and choke.
—Gwendowlyn Brooks
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About Joseph Spece
Solo volumes are 𝘽𝘼𝘿 𝙕𝙊𝙊 (Fathom, 2018) and 𝙍𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙨 (Cherry Grove, 2013). Founding editor at Fathom Books and SHARKPACK imprints; degrees from Columbia University and Boston College. Publishing credits in 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙈, 3𝘼𝙈, 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮, 𝘼𝙂𝙉𝙄, 𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙩, and 𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 ; editing and reader credits in poetry, non-fiction, and fiction at 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚/𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙌𝙩𝙧𝙡𝙮, and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬, respectively. Writing fellowships from The Poetry Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Vermont Studio Center, and Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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