And suddenly we see
that love costs us all we are
and will ever be
yet it is only love which sets us free
-Maya Angelou
Dear Love
I am giving into your power
the power that allows for a liberation long overdue
a power that lifts up the beauty of Black and Brown bodies
as heavenly vessels of truth and excellence and intellect
allowing them to wear the crowns that James Baldwin said
Are already bought and paid for
Your name, Love, is a power
terrifying to identify
critical to survival
always standing on a pedestal of truth
you make us laugh and speak and dance and
write and care and protest and fight and cry and
smile and connect and hear and understand and
support and meditate and cook
and drink and play and see and listen and
Sometimes, you help us define ourselves for ourselves
I see you
I see you and
I know that you are standing at the door
of so many classrooms
waiting to be let in
Waiting to prove that you are the answer
In your most critical form you are the core
Of helping all of our children be who they are
Know their histories and feel your presence
I know your strength and greatness because you stay waiting
Even when you aren’t let in
You are welcome in my classroom, in any space where I exist
You will always be let into my classroom, and in any space where I am
Dear Love
Let’s hold hands
**Written in response to this prompt based on June Jordan’s book Civil Wars: Observations from the Front Lines: How can we make space for love? How can we design our classroom practice with love at the core?**
