Her voice bounced off the yellow wallpaper,
Reverberating with strength and wisdom,
Uplifting the mahogany tones
In the old-fashioned design.
She refused to allow the surround to distract her,
Refused to explain her powerful gift.
She rose above inert ideas
Owning her freed self.
Toni Morrison died this past Monday, leaving behind an unapologetic legacy of literature centering Black American lives. She spoke candidly about racism in America, calling its function a “distraction” (read more here).
In this quadrille for De Jackson at dVerse (Quadrille # 83 – Voice), I have imagined her in the setting of Charlotte Gilman’s novel, The Yellow Wallpaper, to fulfill Christine’s Brave and Reckless August Feminist Book Title Challenge.
For me, Toni Morrison embodied the ultimate goal and greatest achievement for any writer/poet – that is, to write stories/poems as your Authentic Self.
©️ iido 2019
authentic is the key! Nice tribute 🙂
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Thank you! I think you have that authenticity down!
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I certainly work hard at it Irma!
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Your work is proof! ❤️❤️
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thanks so much kind friend ❤
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Really like this!
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Thank you so much! I appreciate the comment and visit!
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Wonderful tribute to Toni you have written Irma,
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Thank you so much, Rob! Her stories always made me cry and think.
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To refuse distractions… that is hard. you have pinpointed so many key elements, your love shines through this wonderful elegy.
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Thank you for your kind words, Lona! Her works have touched me in so many ways…
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LOVE this tribute. LOVE the title, and the idea of her voice bouncing off of that wallpaper…the hope that comes with the color yellow. I loved her, and I am deeply enamored of this piece. Thank you.
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Yay! I’m so glad this piece resonated with you! Your prompt pulled everything together.
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