I recently unearthed the poem Continue by Maya Angelou from my yoga file (a folded group of papers at the bottom of my yoga bag). These poems accumulate from those read each Wednesday when one of my yoga groups meets. In the studio today I worked from the poem’s words for a series of asemic poem plates. Drawing through an even layer of white clay dust I write parts of the poem over and over. When I transfer the dust words to the clay they are printed backwards and mostly illegibly. I continued to work on this idea of simple materials fired in a simple kiln. I repeat and write these words as if they were a chant to get past the cruelty in our society. An eloquent chant to remind myself and others that there is good in the world. A means to plant an abstract kiss of concern on the cheek of those who are sick or grieving. I remember my mother who frequently picked small bouquets of roadside flowers, balancing them in glasses or dixie cups. I am once again reminded to take a moment for beauty.
CONTINUE
On the day of your birth
The Creator filled countless storehouses and
stockings
With rich ointments
Luscious tapestries
And antique coins of incredible value
Jewels worthy of a queen’s dowry
They were set aside for your use
Alone
Armed with faith and hope
And without knowing of the wealth which awaited
You broke through dense walls
of poverty
And loosed the chains of ignorance which
threatened to cripple you so that you
could walk
A Free Woman
Into a world which needed you
My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter
Continue
To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined
Continue
To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you
–Maya Angelou, excerpt of poem written for Oprah Winfrey