Aug 1, 2021
Ina Cariño on her selection:
Aracelis Girmay’s “You are Who I Love,” first published in 2017, is still so, so needed today. The repetition of the title throughout the poem gives it a musicality that mimics the chants of those who march in the streets. I chose this poem because it calls to and speaks for all of us: those who fight for what is dear to them, those who heal and need healing, and those who give and give even when no one is looking. It’s my hope that this poem and poems like this can be not just rallying cries for social justice, but also love songs to ourselves and to each other.
the black maria, by Aracelis Girmay:
Music: “Shift of Currents” by Blue Dot Sessions // CC BY-NC 2.0