Exploring Nayyirah Waheed
I came across Nayyirah Waheed perhaps a year ago while scrolling through the explore page on Instagram. Her work immediately spoke to me. Something about her short poignant poems and how she is able to capture the essence of anything in but a few lines captured my soul and I've been intrigued ever since.
The first poem I am looking at today is perhaps one of my favorite works. Ever. The poem speaks of the natural fear anxiety womxn experience when encountering men because of the violences practiced upon our bodies. When that "feminine presence" is in his eyes it is perhaps an indication that that he has unlearned (or is in the process of unlearning) toxic masculinity. It is also a relief (as the next few lines indicate) because it means that the womxn does not have to perform undue emotional and intellectual labor to make him understand but a fraction of her experience. For Waheed of course this sexism practiced upon her body is often racialized as well and the fear and labor is doubled.
This next poem speaks to that exact toxic masculinity I mentioned above. The patriarchy makes men ashamed of showing any emotion that is not anger. Often times these emotions, such as "wanting to weep" (sadness), then take on the form of anger, because it is the only acceptable way of displaying feelings. This leads to an "unconscious [unfeeling? unloving?] heart. The patriarchy denies men the opportunity to cleanse their souls with salt tears.
In just 15 lines Nayyirah Waheed was able to capture two of the most cutting and gutting outcomes of the knife that is the Patriarchy.
The first poem I am looking at today is perhaps one of my favorite works. Ever. The poem speaks of the natural fear anxiety womxn experience when encountering men because of the violences practiced upon our bodies. When that "feminine presence" is in his eyes it is perhaps an indication that that he has unlearned (or is in the process of unlearning) toxic masculinity. It is also a relief (as the next few lines indicate) because it means that the womxn does not have to perform undue emotional and intellectual labor to make him understand but a fraction of her experience. For Waheed of course this sexism practiced upon her body is often racialized as well and the fear and labor is doubled.
This next poem speaks to that exact toxic masculinity I mentioned above. The patriarchy makes men ashamed of showing any emotion that is not anger. Often times these emotions, such as "wanting to weep" (sadness), then take on the form of anger, because it is the only acceptable way of displaying feelings. This leads to an "unconscious [unfeeling? unloving?] heart. The patriarchy denies men the opportunity to cleanse their souls with salt tears.
"Crying does not indicate that you are weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you are alive"
In just 15 lines Nayyirah Waheed was able to capture two of the most cutting and gutting outcomes of the knife that is the Patriarchy.
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