Here she is – my gal, the thinker.
Wondering and writing with the words of Jeanette Winterson in 12 Bytes and those gifted to the world by Ursula Le Guin in The lathe of heaven; moved to wonder and write by bell hooks in All about love: New visions, always by Dorothy Allison but this time in Two or three things I know for sure; and, inspired to wonder with love as academic theory by Maggie MacLure – never mind the offence.
Here she is – my gal, the thinker.
Unashamedly naked and soft around the edges, expanding her heart from her sleeve to become the hearthstone which now holds her mind and body. A little while ago an academic reviewer called my gal off-putting, silly and flippant, and strongly suggested I omit her from my writing. I was not sure whether I would ever be be courageous enough to share her again – but, never mind the offence.
Here she is – my gal, the thinker.
Her mascara is prominent, no longer fearing to hide her wyrding and wondering about love and it’s place in her writing. I wonder if I should call her Eve? Next time I draw her, I may even add eye-liner and lipstick – never mind the offence.
Here she is – my gal, the thinker.
Heart beating, replying, stuttering, steadying, interrupting, flushing, releasing, longing, singing – and loving villanelle-istically, in five tercets and a quatrain, running and alternating on two rhymes -never mind the offence.
Here she is – my gal, the thinker.
With gratitude to Kathleen Stewart, Lauren Berlant, and Jeanette Winterson for lighting the way, here are some words and works I wondered with to write this post
hooked by her, bells’ words of hope ring loud and strong 20 years on in a (still) loveless world, All about love: New visions, Harper Perennial, 2003.
Do I dare and Dorothy Allison does – Two or three things I know for sure, Penguin, 1996.
Jeanette Winterson, 12 Bytes: How we got here and where we might go next (2021), in awe of her furious and loving wisdom about worlds and words.
The magical Maggie MacLure with writing from 2010 that glows – “The offence of theory”, Journal of Education Policy, 25(2), 277-286.
Her carrier bag is never empty and her gifts eternal – thank you Ursula Le Guin, The lathe of heaven: A novel, Simon and Schuster, 2008.
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Awwwww, aaaaahhhhh, yeaaahhhh! SO glad your gal is back! Such a glorious thinker, and writer and weaver of words in the wyrd! Keep applying that mascara, thick and black and beautiful and defiant! Words change the world, and yours make it a better place. Much love.
She’s back and ready to share her love with each stroke of mascara! Thank you for your loving in words in reply Nicola 💟
PS i think she’s called Lilith
Your gal is strong yet vulnerable. She is certainly brave and courageous, not fearing fear. She is a joyous shining light in a grey world, writing heartlines with you, sharing your love of words and theory.💜
Thank you Dawne – she has plenty of love to go around!