The first poem we read together by Audre Lorde was her enduring and well-loved “A Litany for Survival.” The students wrote litanies for their own survival and the survival of their peers emphasizing Audre Lorde’s attention to the linked problematics of race and gender and her effective argumentative structure. As we discovered in class, Lorde describes the situation, then she explains the cause for that situation, then she demonstrates the paradox of the situation and makes a transcendent conclusion…all the while developing her relationship to an audience made possible by the poem itself.
To read Audre Lorde’s A Litany for Survival and see the framework we used for our own litanies click here.
Student Poems:
For those of us
constantly calling begging
for more
who are not satisfied
with the less
kick, scream, whine
and cry
till what you want is
recieved.
For those of us
who are stamped and seared
with the view of bein spoiled
learning to share with others
but why when you can have all?
No matter if they
push you away
you have been alone anyway
For all of us
we were really meant
to be alone, selfish and greedy.
And when the checks go through
cleared
it is no money left.
But when you don’ have
the itch becomes as scratch
and you feel as if
your withdrawing form th need
So is it better to kick, scream, whine and beg
or just be grateful?
For those of us
African American women
that are within their last years of cllege
and struggling more than ever
For those of us who were
eager to start and finish college smoothly
For all of us
that are in college
almost out
And
are facing
last minute problems
but
determine to graduate
in 4 years with a BA in your field
Keep up the good work
the road was never said to be easy.
For those of us
silent people
AA people
oppressed people
women who are afraid
of our next steps, choices and decisions
are afraid that we’re not good enough
worth enough
or smart enough
For those of us
who were sexually mistreated
verbally mistreated
ignored, disrespected, misunderstood
treated less than and less of
For all of us
who always want more than we are given
never satisfied
but race to find something
beyond the end of the rainbow
So we can be at everlasting peace.
My Litany for Survival
To my people
Tugged in different directions
Making choices
But not choosing
To my people
Sacrifices of their families
Bleeding,
So the tunnel will be easier
For those behind
To my people
Hiding in the darkness
Afraid of the light
Afraid it will expose
What they have been taught
Is there
So my people hide away
From freedom
Thinking themselves safe
And they hoped
We would stay there
Unenlightened
And when we work we are afraid
Our best is their mediocre
When we do not work we are afraid
Our best will never be seen
When we pray we are afraid
It is not heard
When we do not pray we are afraid
Our silence is noted
When we believe we are afraid
Of others
When we do not believe
We are afraid of ourselves
My people
Learn to use fear
So GOD is able
to use you.
Letters to Audre Lorde 
That’s a beautiful poem!