WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.302 align:middle line:84% And I'd like to end with a poem-- 00:00:03.302 --> 00:00:05.760 align:middle line:84% I don't want to end with it, but I'm going to stop reading. 00:00:05.760 --> 00:00:10.420 align:middle line:90% 00:00:10.420 --> 00:00:15.670 align:middle line:84% I will be glad to take some questions, or whatever after-- 00:00:15.670 --> 00:00:17.536 align:middle line:90% and I'll answer anything, truly. 00:00:17.536 --> 00:00:18.994 align:middle line:90% Anything. 00:00:18.994 --> 00:00:21.222 align:middle line:84% It's too late for me to be embarrassed. 00:00:21.222 --> 00:00:24.670 align:middle line:90% 00:00:24.670 --> 00:00:25.930 align:middle line:90% I teach at-- 00:00:25.930 --> 00:00:28.240 align:middle line:84% I have for the last 15 years, taught 00:00:28.240 --> 00:00:30.310 align:middle line:84% at a school, St. Mary's College of Maryland 00:00:30.310 --> 00:00:33.460 align:middle line:90% in St. Mary's City, Maryland. 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:35.740 align:middle line:84% It was an Honors College, but under a new president, 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:42.280 align:middle line:84% I think it's one hell in a hand basket-- but that's just me. 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:45.190 align:middle line:84% There was a woman on our faculty who was the smartest 00:00:45.190 --> 00:00:47.110 align:middle line:90% woman in the county. 00:00:47.110 --> 00:00:50.200 align:middle line:90% I know this because she told me. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.260 align:middle line:84% I, Lucille, am the smartest woman in the county. 00:00:53.260 --> 00:00:56.380 align:middle line:90% OK, it's fine with me. 00:00:56.380 --> 00:01:00.010 align:middle line:84% She's very interesting, because-- 00:01:00.010 --> 00:01:01.720 align:middle line:90% I keep my door open, always. 00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:03.400 align:middle line:84% I wish to be welcoming to students, 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:05.600 align:middle line:90% so my door is always open. 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:09.140 align:middle line:84% And if they come by and the door is open, they know I'm there. 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:10.900 align:middle line:84% They come in and say things, like-- 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:14.920 align:middle line:84% now, St Mary's is only 6% minority-- 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:17.410 align:middle line:84% and they say things like, I hate everybody. 00:01:17.410 --> 00:01:18.250 align:middle line:90% Can I come in here? 00:01:18.250 --> 00:01:20.170 align:middle line:84% And I say, sure, but you must-- you 00:01:20.170 --> 00:01:22.240 align:middle line:84% must leave without hating everybody, 00:01:22.240 --> 00:01:25.730 align:middle line:84% because that's very debilitating. 00:01:25.730 --> 00:01:29.902 align:middle line:84% And I think I have done good work at that school-- 00:01:29.902 --> 00:01:31.360 align:middle line:84% and in that county for that matter, 00:01:31.360 --> 00:01:38.960 align:middle line:84% it's the county of tobacco farmers and water people. 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:40.940 align:middle line:84% And anyway, she was talking in her office, 00:01:40.940 --> 00:01:43.850 align:middle line:84% and I could hear her say, what is she doing here anyway? 00:01:43.850 --> 00:01:45.990 align:middle line:90% And I have the highest salary. 00:01:45.990 --> 00:01:47.240 align:middle line:90% What is she doing here anyway? 00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:48.350 align:middle line:90% I don't understand. 00:01:48.350 --> 00:01:49.640 align:middle line:90% Why do we need her? 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:52.970 align:middle line:84% You know, this woman really didn't care a lot for me. 00:01:52.970 --> 00:01:56.070 align:middle line:90% And I was so hurt. 00:01:56.070 --> 00:01:58.010 align:middle line:84% I'm a Cancer, our feelings get hurt. 00:01:58.010 --> 00:02:00.590 align:middle line:90% You know, is that not true? 00:02:00.590 --> 00:02:01.610 align:middle line:90% Our feelings get hurt. 00:02:01.610 --> 00:02:03.710 align:middle line:84% We think it's our fault. Raining, oh, 00:02:03.710 --> 00:02:04.700 align:middle line:90% God, what did I do? 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:05.670 align:middle line:90% It's raining! 00:02:05.670 --> 00:02:06.170 align:middle line:90% You know? 00:02:06.170 --> 00:02:08.780 align:middle line:90% It's just the way it is. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:12.260 align:middle line:90% And I wrote this poem. 00:02:12.260 --> 00:02:15.500 align:middle line:84% And I like to read it at places, because it pertains not just 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:17.240 align:middle line:90% to me, but to many others-- 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:20.690 align:middle line:84% to many other things, people, et cetera. 00:02:20.690 --> 00:02:23.180 align:middle line:90% Has no title. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:25.490 align:middle line:90% Won't you celebrate with me? 00:02:25.490 --> 00:02:29.390 align:middle line:84% What I have shaped into a kind of life? 00:02:29.390 --> 00:02:32.600 align:middle line:90% I had no model. 00:02:32.600 --> 00:02:36.150 align:middle line:84% Born in Babylon, both non-white and woman. 00:02:36.150 --> 00:02:40.080 align:middle line:84% What did I see to be, except myself? 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.530 align:middle line:84% I made it up, here on this bridge 00:02:42.530 --> 00:02:44.780 align:middle line:90% between star shine and clay. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:48.440 align:middle line:84% My one hand holding tight the other hand. 00:02:48.440 --> 00:02:51.920 align:middle line:90% Come, celebrate with me-- 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:55.160 align:middle line:84% the Poetry Center could use this-- 00:02:55.160 --> 00:02:59.210 align:middle line:84% celebrate with me, that every day something 00:02:59.210 --> 00:03:03.910 align:middle line:84% has tried to kill me and has failed. 00:03:03.910 --> 00:03:32.000 align:middle line:90%