In Memory of Shame

by Karenne Wood

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because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong
because we spoke and because we had nothing to say
because we were ignorant and because we knew too much
because we neglected our children and because we wanted to
because we drank and because we stopped drinking
because we were industrious and because we had no energy
because we were young, old, fat, bony, spineless, cocky,
selfish, selfless, frigid, immoral, guilty

because we loved too much or not enough
because we couldn’t fry an egg correctly
because the house hid dust in its corners
because we stayed and because we left
because our faces were the wrong ones
because we were treated disrespectfully
because we were children or women or not
white or just not enough.

because we wanted to protect them

"In Memory of Shame," by Karenne Wood, from SISTER NATIONS, © 2002. Used by permission of Karenne Wood.