Contemporary Medusa
“One enters a room and history follows; one enters a room and history precedes. History is already seated on the chair in the empty room when one arrives. Where one stands in society seems always related to this historical experience. “ Dionne Brand
She enters the classroom, playfulness in her heart, curiosity on her tongue, butterflies in her stomach – on her heart brain…
thoughts join dots to create an ever changing scene..
There is an absence…of her/ story
His story in the corridor on display- double backed with borders.
His story already seated on the chair
On the pages
The white board enlarges his/story - wide scream
Emotional erasure hangs on the air
She is seen through his white gaze…his/tory already formed, precedes her
not seen
policed
on probation
An offence
Braid, plait, twist, knot, lox, cane row
Afro future
Beautifilled
Her brothers know what it is to be policed
Curtailed, restricted, restrained, detained
attention through detention
His story weaponised the black body
His story personified her hair
Imbued with racial imaginary defiance , rebellion, aggression, freedom
Contemporary medusa
Her body constricts at her absence
She unlearns the learnt
Reimagines the imagined – unimagined
She writes
On the margins
Between the lines
Pages torn
shame based discipline stalks the corridors
The overseer lives
Art; RJDownes