Adrienne Rich

I am here, the mermaid whose dark hair
streams black, the merman in his armored body
We circle silently about the wreck
we dive into the hold. ...

We are, I am, you are
by cowardice or courage
the one who find our way
back to the scene
carrying a knife, a camera
a book of myths
in which
our names do not appear.

(extract: Diving Into The Wreck by Rich)

I was sad to hear that Adrienne Rich died on Tuesday at her home in Santa Cruz. Of Woman Born by Rich was the first feminist book I read, or was aware of reading (before I cottoned on that Red Riding Hood was a call to arms!)

"The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet."

Adrienne Rich