new face

With the remake of the movie "The Color Purple" interest in Alice Walker and her words has surged more than usual. 

In her book "The Same River Twice: Honoring the Difficult" the Mendocino County-based author revisits the film set - describing her personal reactions to the whole experience, in brave, naked detail.

Her writing brilliantly unveils an artist’s pain and joy at seeing her work take on a surprising life of its own. For writers and artists, it is full of valuable insights. 

Here is her poem, New Face. 

I have learned

not to worry

about love;

but to honor

its coming

with all my heart.

To examine the dark mysteries

of the blood

with headless heed

and swirl,

to know the rush

of feelings

swift

and flowing

as water.

Beauty In Truth | a discussion with Alice Walker

The source

appears to be

some inexhaustible

spring

within

our twin

and triple

selves.

The new face

I turn up

to you

no one else

on earth

has ever

seen.