Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart (Spanish Edition)

by Alice Walker

is like the dark matter between stars and galaxies in the Universe that ultimately holds it all together.

into obscurity and obscenity this new age portends Life might permit us to remain standing if only on the inside;

Something about basketball is so graceful, the players so serious, skilled, nonviolent and intense; I sit grunting and groaning like everyone around me; we are for a short time, family, and these are our brothers engaged in peaceful war.

it is the sense that something that was alive for a very long time is still alive. Not yet beaten into submission or oblivion by those who kill everything they touch with money.

I wanted us to think about how superficial is our understanding of beauty; but, also, how beauty is destroyed. And how, to bear our own disgrace these hundreds of years we’ve taught ourselves to laugh at anyone as abused and diminished as we feel.

We’re old now, but in spite of all we learned, so much of it dreadful and scary, even petrifying, we gave Life our best shot. Perfection will have to wait for the next incarnation. And I mean of the world, not just us.

You are guilty America of arming the world: if you could, and to make money you’d arm the Universe. Remember

Here is what I believe will be the hardest thing to do: to remember that we have a soul.

You are attempting to carry the suffering all around you but your back is bending. Let us bear it for you.

The Future Captured in a Heartless Fist

We will never regret having been born in this cruel time for we recognize it for what it is: the time of fullness of heart. When the heart, on a daily basis fills to capacity and overflows with love of the people: of the people’s children, throwing stones against tanks, of the people’s women combatting erasure; of the people’s men risking all for dignity and peace. Fullness of heart.

And all you can do is get out of bed and failing that give thanks you have a bed not to get out of.

Hope is a woman who has lost her fear.

Hope rises, She always does, did we fail to notice this in all the stories they’ve tried to suppress?

And when they spy on us let them discover us loving— it really doesn’t matter what we are loving let it be an exercise of the heart.

The Mother of Trees If I could be the mother of Wind I would blow all fear away from you. If I could be the mother of Water I would wash out the path that frightens you. If I were the mother of Trees I would plant my tallest children around your feet that you might climb beyond all danger. But alas, I am only a mother of humans whose magic powers have vanished since we allow our littlest ones to face injustice suffering & the unholiest of terrors alone.

What they will pretend not to know when you are injured is how ugly you feel now.

Life is being raped to death by those who cannot bear their inner loneliness who cannot stop what they cannot feel.

I believe the women. whatever the reason for their delay in coming forth, I believe they would not come forward now except to feel sane and clean again. Sisters keep your heads up.

Be what they do not want: be thoughtful. Be skilled at loving. Be of good heart. Be of the world tribe. Who torments the sacred rest of us lacks confidence in his own worthiness to stand shameless even poor and sing.