Читать книгу Voices - Patrice Carolyn Forrester - Страница 5

These poems tell the stories of great oppression, pride, pain, and resilience. As I reflected on the lives of other women in history and our current day, stories began to form in my imagination about their lives. I began to write their stories based on the historical record and my own observations in the form of narrative poems.

The poems gathered here present the experiences of those who are all too easily ignored and marginalized due to their race, class, ethnicity, or gender. The poems at the beginning of this collection give voice to black women, a group that has been vilified, honored, and discounted. Additional poems in this collection present a variety of women’s voices who express the sexual exploitation of women in war and peacetime, as well as the healing that comes through connections with others and a sense of hope for the future.

Even as these poems shed light on the stories of particular people and events, I hope that you will look to find your own story as you reflect on the lives of those portrayed here. May you experience the freedom and healing that can come from authentically using your own unique voice.