Poet of the week: Sonia Sanchez

Sonia Sanchez

photo: Marion Ettlinger

Sonia Sanchez is an African-American poet, born in Birmingham, Alabama on September 9, 1934.  Her mother died when she was only one and Sanchez was raised by her grandmother until 1943. When  Sanchez  was nine years old she moved in with her dad in Harlem, New York. Years later  Sanchez  started dedicating herself  to write and study, earning a B.A in Political Science from Hunter College. I believe students at ALC may be interested in her poetry as an African American poet who was able to educate herself and persevere in her goals of becoming a writer. (This information was taken from Poets.org).

forgive me if i laugh
you are so sure of love
you are so young
and i too old to learn of love.

the rain exploding
in the air is love
the grass excreting her
green wax is love
and stones remembering
past steps is love,
but you. you are too young
for love
and i too old.

once. what does it matter
when or who, i knew
of love.
i fixed my body
under his and went
to sleep in love
all trace of me
was wiped away

forgive me if i smile
young heiress of a naked dream
you are so young
and i too old to learn of love.