National Black Poetry Day: "Coal" by Audre Lorde

Through comparisons to objects and creatures, the speaker of the poem describes her use of words to express her self. Read the full text here.
10 words 136 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. flame
    combustion of materials producing heat and light and smoke
    How a diamond comes into a knot of flame
    How a sound comes into a word, coloured
    By who pays what for speaking.
  2. wager
    the money risked on a gamble
    Then there are words like stapled wagers
    In a perforated book—buy and sign and tear apart
  3. perforated
    having a number or series of holes
    Then there are words like stapled wagers
    In a perforated book—buy and sign and tear apart
  4. stub
    a small, unused piece
    The stub remains
    An ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge.
  5. ragged
    having an irregular outline
    The stub remains
    An ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge.
  6. breed
    have young (animals) or reproduce (organisms)
    Some words live in my throat
    Breeding like adders.
  7. explode
    burst outward, usually with noise
    Others know sun
    Seeking like gypsies over my tongue
    To explode through my lips
    Like young sparrows bursting from shell.
  8. sparrow
    a small dull-colored singing bird
    Others know sun
    Seeking like gypsies over my tongue
    To explode through my lips
    Like young sparrows bursting from shell.
  9. bedevil
    be confusing or perplexing to
    Some words
    Bedevil me.
  10. knot
    something twisted and tight and swollen
    Love is a word, another kind of open—
    As a diamond comes into a knot of flame
    I am black because I come from the earth's inside
    Take my word for jewel in your open light.
Created on Tue Oct 10 10:55:02 EDT 2023 (updated Tue Oct 10 14:47:35 EDT 2023)

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