Julie R. Enszer - Sister Love: The Letters of Audre Lorde and Pat Parker 1974-1989

Introduction by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

Letters

Editors Note

Acknowledgements

Audre Lorde Partial Bibliography

Pat Parker Partial Bibliography

October 12, 1974

Dear Pat:

Warmth from a cold place It was so good to see you again, and to meet Ann. I hope things are going well with you both.

Having come up for air after the deluge of work descend ing upon me on my return, I find, in rapid and devastating succession that: 1) my copy of Paper Trip upon which I wrote your address is missing, so Ive got to scurry about and find it again which is a mistake. Get it together, lady. Of course its not REALLY important on the cosmic scale of things: we both know it, but like every other kind of grease, it helps to keep the kinks at least manageable and I know you know what I mean.

Anyway, spoke to Galen this morning about you and she was moderately unhelpful, although she does know your name and Child of Myself . For readings, she suggests you write to the people on the lists Im sending you, using my name, telling them you plan to be in the area during such-and-such a time, and would be interested inor rather, are available fora reading.

Now what this means of course is that you must decide on a timeand I suggest sometime next spring, because these places get their money in Aprilwhen you can come East. In addition, get the names of womens groups and bookshops here (Im working on compiling that for you, but maybe Alice can help, there) and send the same kind of letter to them. At best, you wont hear from more than of them, but thats a start. If youre interested, that is. It does mean work.

Also, please send me some poems for Amazon Quarterly . youre working with. Whats happening with the writing workshops? Has it gotten off the ground?

Give my love to Ann, and write me soon, or Ill haunt you.

Love,

Audre

P.S. In your letter, dont forget to include the names of your books and other publications, and that youre a Black Feminist Poet. The checks are the ones I particularly suggest.

SET II

Pat: I particularly want the long poem and the poem to white women who want to be friendly (I cant remember the exact title) AND FAST. We go to press on the 20 th . Can you make it?

[undated, typewritten letter]

Dear Pat:

Thanks for the poems. Too late for this issue: Ill let you know when we can run them. So good to hear from you, and about Ann. Tell her good luck from me, and to really wow them, which I know she will. About Felicia: please help her in any way you can. Shes my baby sister, ask her about it sometime. But the two of you are like pieces of my own flesh far away, and thats a kind of bond. She needs Gente. She also needs you.

Great about Poetry in the Schools program. It wasnt too difficult, but I want to tell you some things about it. First, Im sending you herewith a Newsletter from T&W, its very fine. (If you can) Now. I wish I could have this letter self-destruct like Mission Impossible , but I cant, so dont please leave it lying around. The thing about these Poetry in Schools gigs is this: get in there, give the kids what you can (and from you thats a lot) make a lot of bread, which is possible if you play it right, but dont stay around too long. AND DONT TRUST ANYONE IN IT. Play it cool, keep your mouth shut when youre not poeting, and dont get too buddy-bud with the poets you work with. Protect yourself at all times , and the kids, if you can. I believe its a testing-ground for a lot of things, none of which you need to be involved with. Im saying these things to you because I trust you, which is why I made the original connection. Use it, and then get out. And remember, nothing connected with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) which funds it, and funds a lot of programs youll probably be getting more and more involved with in the future; NOTHING connected with the NEA is only what it seems to be on the surface.

Consider seriously what Ive just said, but keep your mouth shut about it to EVERYBODY, or both our asses are liable to wind up in the street. (Not that they both havent been there before, honey, but why press a good thing) And the kids do need what you have to give them.

Sounds good about GENTE. Theres a couple hundred dollars (5 to be exact) floating around I think the group could use. If youre interested, after you all decide about incorporating and that jazz, please send me a letter, sort of formal-like, telling about the group and dealing with the following: Purpose; Composition; Programs; Future Plans; and Goals. By formal-like I mean keep in mind its not for my eyes only. Two other women poets involvedvery fine people but more or less straight. If, on the other hand, you decide not to bother, or its not worth it, let me know right away and Ill stop sitting on the dough, because Ive had Gente in my mind since we first talked about it.

Of course you can read my poems to the women. But do something for me: find out if any of them are writing themselves, and ask them to send their poems to me for consideration to publish in Amazon Quarterly . I want to do a POETRY FOR PRISON issue. Kiss Ann for me, and you stay strong and beautiful. I love you.

Audre

P.S. Im sending the Newsletter under separate cover. Please let me know if this letter gets to you okay and in good condition. And next time, seal your envelopes: the enclosed check is for stamps and Bazooka Bubble Gum, if they make it out your way. Happy St. Toads Day!

January 18, 1975

Once upon a time there was this woman named Audre and she met this woman named Pat. And she faithfully wrote her a letter. And for a long time she waited, but there was no answer. So Audre who knew that Pat lived in the land of the poet-killers assumed that her friend must be dead: for she knew that that was the only reason Pat hadnt answered her letter. She knew that Pat wasnt one of those lazy niggers. And one day out of the great smoggy blue a letter came and lo and behold it was from Pat and Audre rejoiced, for she knew that her friend wasnt dead, but alas she had to admit and realized that her friend was indeed a lazy nigger. And the moral of this dyke tale, children, is that Pat Parker is alive and well but just a little more crazier.

THE END

Audre, hello

You can see what working with elementary school children has done with my brain. Just completed my ten weeks. Spent the last two weeks typing ditto masters and for a slow inaccurate typist like me that was pure hell. Even got to the point where I was willing to hire a typist, but I couldnt find one willing to take on that mess. I enjoyed it though. The kids were beautiful. And thats the last time I [am] going to try and correct an error. The teachers on the other hand were a pain in the ass. There was this constant echo saying watch your spelling children.

Gente is still going strong. There are two women working on proposals. I told the group about you and your friends. Were having our monthly business meeting tonight. Should find out how the incorporation is moving.

Havent seen or talked to Felicia in some time. Had made a deal with her. She was supposed to sell Ann and me her bike, but she changed her mind. She said she was moving and needed more money than either of us had. I dont know where she is. Which has me a little distressed since shes got my ten-speed.

Went down to California Institute for Women. The in mates liked my poetry. The prison officials werent so happy about it. They denied me the right to do my second reading. I did it anyway, but had to have lookouts watching for guards. Spent most of the second reading listening to their poetry. Some of which was really good. Told them to send it off to you. They seemed excited about that suggestion. The guards searched me and my briefcase. They had a woman searching me while another guard searched my briefcase. And used that opportunity to steal one of my notebooks And I wasnt sure I had brought that notebook, so I wasnt positive they had ripped it until I checked my studio when I got home. It was my working notebook, which I usually dont take to readings.