Unheard Women Poets / Response

To celebrate the release of NPEP student Erika Ray’s new collection of poetry 42 and Freedom, the Northwestern Insider has published four of her poems. NPEP student Broderick Hollins responded to “Unheard Women Poets.”

Unheard Women Poets

By Erika Ray

don't you think you should be quiet

yes, I know you can talk

manipulate words and verbs

in ways that make me feel heard

heard is what you should

aim not to be

use your gift of beauty

and become a part of the scenery

in stillness

a girl and woman's place

don't be too much Ntozake

or too wrapped up in Nikki Giovanni

or overgrown in the sounds or talking

back of bell hooks

what sound can you make

if your mouth is closed?

if the vibration of words stops

before they leave your soul

poet

they won't call you

because you owe a woman's debt

poet they won't call you

because they have not heard you yet.

Response

By Broderick Hollins

42 and Freedom is energy to us

impacted by the system, a powerful

tool to get us by. “Unheard Women

Poets” is no different.

Acknowledging this and speaking

your mind, through pen and paper, is

more valuable than speaking out

loud—because with your words in

writing, we can go back and grab

onto your thoughts and your voice.