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Undersong: Chosen Poems Old and New
"Undersong is a remarkable poetic document...."--Adrienne Rich
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
29 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
Audre Lorde
112 books5,474 followersAudre Lorde was a revolutionary Black feminist. Lorde's poetry was published very regularly during the 1960s — in Langston Hughes' 1962 New Negro Poets, USA; in several foreign anthologies; and in black literary magazines. During this time, she was politically active in civil rights, anti-war, and feminist movements. Her first volume of poetry, The First Cities (1968), was published by the Poet's Press and edited by Diane di Prima, a former classmate and friend from Hunter College High School. Dudley Randall, a poet and critic, asserted in his review of the book that Lorde "does not wave a black flag, but her blackness is there, implicit, in the bone."
Her second volume, Cables to Rage (1970), which was mainly written during her tenure at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, addressed themes of love, betrayal, childbirth and the complexities of raising children. It is particularly noteworthy for the poem "Martha", in which Lorde poetically confirms her homosexuality: "[W]e shall love each other here if ever at all." Later books continued her political aims in lesbian and gay rights, and feminism. In 1980, together with Barbara Smith and Cherríe Moraga, she co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the first U.S. publisher for women of colour. Lorde was State Poet of New York from 1991 to 1992.
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Her second volume, Cables to Rage (1970), which was mainly written during her tenure at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, addressed themes of love, betrayal, childbirth and the complexities of raising children. It is particularly noteworthy for the poem "Martha", in which Lorde poetically confirms her homosexuality: "[W]e shall love each other here if ever at all." Later books continued her political aims in lesbian and gay rights, and feminism. In 1980, together with Barbara Smith and Cherríe Moraga, she co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the first U.S. publisher for women of colour. Lorde was State Poet of New York from 1991 to 1992.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 28, 2015
SEPARATION
Stars dwindle
they will not reward me
even in triumph.
It is possible
to shoot a man
in self-defense
and still notice
how his red blood
decorates the snow.
(1972)
April 14, 2018
I didn't love this the way I thought I would, if that makes sense. I've read Lorde's work before, but I never sat down and read a book of her poetry, cover-to-cover. After a while they all seemed to be the same poem, and they were so heavy with metaphor that I often didn't know what she was trying to say.
These are some of my favorites:
These are some of my favorites:
The Dozens
Nothing says that you must
see me in the street
with us so close together at that red light
that a blind man could have smelled his grocer—
and nothing says that you must
say hello
as we pass in the street,
but we have known each other too well
in the dark
for this,
and it hurts me when you do not speak.
And no one you were with was quite so fine
that I won't remember this and
suffer you in turn and
in my own fashion which is certainly
not in the street.
For I can count on my telephone
ringing some evening and you
exploding into my room through the receiver
kissing and licking my ear....
I hope you will learn your thing
at least
from some of those spiteless noseless
people who surround you
before the centipede in you
runs out of worlds
one for each foot.
Sowing
It is the sink of the afternoon
the children asleep or weary.
I have finished planting the tomatoes
in this brief sun after four days of rain
brown earth under my fingernails
honey-thick sun on the back of my neck
the tips of my fingers are stinging
from the rich earth
but more so from the lack
of your body.
I have been to this place before
blood seething commanded
my fingers fresh from the earth
dream of a furrow
whose name should be you.
Change of Season
Am I to be cursed forever with becoming
somebody else on the way to myself?
Walking backward I fall into summers
behind me salt with wanting
lovers or friends a job wider shoes
a cool drink something to bite into freshness
place to hide out of the rain
out of the shifting melange of seasons
where cruel boys I chased
and their skinny dodgeball sisters
flamed and died in becoming
the brown autumn
left in search of who tore the streamers down
at graduation …
Who Said It Was Simple
There are so many roots to the tree of anger
that sometimes the branches shatter
before they bear.
Sitting in Nedicks
the women rally before they march
discussing the problematic girls
they hire to make them free.
An almost white counterman passes
a waiting brother to serve them first
and the ladies neither notice nor reject
the slighter pleasures of their slavery.
But I who am bound by my mirror
as well as my bed
see causes in color
as well as sex
and sit here wondering
which me will survive
all these liberations.
August 19, 2016
It’s difficult for me to rate or review a book of poetry because my understanding of it is very limited, and poems either hit me or they don’t. When they do, they carry me off somewhere I could never have dreamed of on my own. Audre Lorde did that with many of these, plus she gave me a glimpse into another’s life, one of the aspects of reading I love the most. “For Each of You,” a masterpiece, is filled with important reminders for all of us, including this one:
Remember
Our sun
Is not the most noteworthy star
Only the nearest
Remember
Our sun
Is not the most noteworthy star
Only the nearest
December 31, 2020
Una recopilación de poemas que lleva con fuerza una voz de lucha contra la homofobia y el racismo. Me gustó mucho conocer de Lorde, sobre todo lo que es su vida en particular y la fuerza que tiene en sus palabras.
Lo que me apena, es cómo mencionan en el prólogo y la minibiografía, es que apenas haya unas pocas cosas traducidas de sus discursos y poemas. Se necesita más de la literatura de Lorde.
Lo que me apena, es cómo mencionan en el prólogo y la minibiografía, es que apenas haya unas pocas cosas traducidas de sus discursos y poemas. Se necesita más de la literatura de Lorde.
May 11, 2007
I learned why people always talked in hushed voices about the power of Audre Lorde.
October 30, 2020
La poesía como un derecho. El mejor modo de entender y abrazar al feminismo interseccional es conociendo y leyendo a Audre Lorde.
January 10, 2022
El poder de la poesía de Audre Lorde es simplemente alucinante. Me encantó esta edición y la traducción. Creo que leer sus poemas te permite entender profundamente la interseccionalidad, ese lugar de encuentro desde el que escribía: ser mujer, ser negra, amar a mujeres, combatir la injusticia y tener el corazón dispuesto a la vulnerabilidad.
"Tiene tantas raíces el árbol de la rabia
que a veces las ramas se quiebran
antes de dar frutos"
"Tiene tantas raíces el árbol de la rabia
que a veces las ramas se quiebran
antes de dar frutos"
October 25, 2018
Here are some samples:
Now That I Am Forever with Child
by Audre Lorde
How the days went
while you were blooming within me
I remember____each upon each
the swelling changed planes of my body
and how you first fluttered____then jumped
and I thought it was my heart.
How the days wound down
and the turning of winter
I recall____you
growing heavy
against the wind.
I thought____now her hands
are formed____her hair
has started to curl
now her teeth are done
now she sneezes.
Then the seed opened.
I bore you one morning
just before spring
my head rang like a fiery piston
my legs were towers between which
a new world was passing.
Since then
I can only distinguish
one thread within running hours
you____flowing through selves
toward You.
(1963)
What My Child Learns of the Sea
by Audre Lorde
What my child learns of the sea
of the summer thunders
of the riddles that hide in the curve of spring
she will learn in my twilights
and childlike
revise every autumn.
What my child learns
as her winters grow into time
has ripened in my own body
to enter her eyes with first light.
This is why
more than blood
or the milk I have given
one day a strange girl will step
to the back of a mirror cutting my ropes
of sea and thunder and spring.
Of the way she will taste her autumns--
toast-brittle or warmer than sleep--
and the words she will use for winter
I stand already condemned.
(1963)
Now That I Am Forever with Child
by Audre Lorde
How the days went
while you were blooming within me
I remember____each upon each
the swelling changed planes of my body
and how you first fluttered____then jumped
and I thought it was my heart.
How the days wound down
and the turning of winter
I recall____you
growing heavy
against the wind.
I thought____now her hands
are formed____her hair
has started to curl
now her teeth are done
now she sneezes.
Then the seed opened.
I bore you one morning
just before spring
my head rang like a fiery piston
my legs were towers between which
a new world was passing.
Since then
I can only distinguish
one thread within running hours
you____flowing through selves
toward You.
(1963)
What My Child Learns of the Sea
by Audre Lorde
What my child learns of the sea
of the summer thunders
of the riddles that hide in the curve of spring
she will learn in my twilights
and childlike
revise every autumn.
What my child learns
as her winters grow into time
has ripened in my own body
to enter her eyes with first light.
This is why
more than blood
or the milk I have given
one day a strange girl will step
to the back of a mirror cutting my ropes
of sea and thunder and spring.
Of the way she will taste her autumns--
toast-brittle or warmer than sleep--
and the words she will use for winter
I stand already condemned.
(1963)
March 13, 2022
Powerful. Profound. Poignant.
”Am I to be cursed forever with becoming somebody else on the way to myself?”
(from Change of Season)
Audre Lorde’s poems on civil rights movement, motherhood, childhood and feminism are BLAZING and melodious.
Some of my favourite poems from this collection:
Coal
Generation
Martha
Equinox
A Poem For Women In Rage
Need: A Chorale For Black Woman Voices (such a powerful piece to end the book!)
Keen to read Sister Outsider and the Selected Poems Collection now!!
”Am I to be cursed forever with becoming somebody else on the way to myself?”
(from Change of Season)
Audre Lorde’s poems on civil rights movement, motherhood, childhood and feminism are BLAZING and melodious.
Some of my favourite poems from this collection:
Coal
Generation
Martha
Equinox
A Poem For Women In Rage
Need: A Chorale For Black Woman Voices (such a powerful piece to end the book!)
Keen to read Sister Outsider and the Selected Poems Collection now!!
February 2, 2015
Audre Lorde's poetry is beautiful, and this was a wonderful way to begin reading it. I've read her essays and Zami, so it was nice to be exposed to her poetry.
August 24, 2016
Exceptionally moving, could have been written in 2016. Food for the spirit, humbling, should be required.
August 12, 2019
Selección de poemas de la escritora estadounidense feminista Audre Lorde.
September 18, 2023
STORY BOOKS ON A KITCHEN TABLE
Going away
she left me in her place
iron maidens to protect me
and for my food
the wrinkled milk of legend
where I wandered
through lonely rooms of afternoon
wrapped in nightmare
from the Orange Red Yellow
Purple Blue Green
Fairy Books
where white witches ruled
over the kitchen table
and never wept
or offered gold
nor any kind enchantment
for the vanished mother
of a Black girl.
(1970)
I have always had a love/hate relationship with poetry. I am trying. My son asked me why I was reading this book and I told him that (much of the time) I have a difficult time understanding poetry. I feel, on the whole, I only get a superficial understanding of what the author is trying to convey. But, when a poem hits me hard -- when I absolutely get that feeling -- it is so strong. I love it! There were so many poems in this collection that hit me in the feels. Feelings of love, loss, rage, disappointment, strength, weakness, pride, insignificance, hunger, passion, grief -- so much! My absolute favourite chapter was the last: "New Poems 1978-1982." Each one is so strong and Audre Lorde's pain and rage is palpable. AFTERIMAGES is a must read.
Other stand outs for me were: EQUINOX; THE SEVENTH SENSE; FOR EACH OF YOU; GENERATION II; TEACHER; and REVOLUTION IS ONE FORM OF SOCIAL CHANGE.
My plan is to read about Audre Lorde next so I can better understand her life, her experiences, why she is the Warrior Poet. I am in awe.
P.S. MEMORIAL III -- FROM A PHONE BOOTH ON BROADWAY had me in tears.
Going away
she left me in her place
iron maidens to protect me
and for my food
the wrinkled milk of legend
where I wandered
through lonely rooms of afternoon
wrapped in nightmare
from the Orange Red Yellow
Purple Blue Green
Fairy Books
where white witches ruled
over the kitchen table
and never wept
or offered gold
nor any kind enchantment
for the vanished mother
of a Black girl.
(1970)
I have always had a love/hate relationship with poetry. I am trying. My son asked me why I was reading this book and I told him that (much of the time) I have a difficult time understanding poetry. I feel, on the whole, I only get a superficial understanding of what the author is trying to convey. But, when a poem hits me hard -- when I absolutely get that feeling -- it is so strong. I love it! There were so many poems in this collection that hit me in the feels. Feelings of love, loss, rage, disappointment, strength, weakness, pride, insignificance, hunger, passion, grief -- so much! My absolute favourite chapter was the last: "New Poems 1978-1982." Each one is so strong and Audre Lorde's pain and rage is palpable. AFTERIMAGES is a must read.
Other stand outs for me were: EQUINOX; THE SEVENTH SENSE; FOR EACH OF YOU; GENERATION II; TEACHER; and REVOLUTION IS ONE FORM OF SOCIAL CHANGE.
My plan is to read about Audre Lorde next so I can better understand her life, her experiences, why she is the Warrior Poet. I am in awe.
P.S. MEMORIAL III -- FROM A PHONE BOOTH ON BROADWAY had me in tears.
May 28, 2020
This collection includes a wide sampling of Lorde's poems across the years. It's interesting to see how she grows as a writer - the earlier poems she wrote were quite limited in terms of the images introduced and word choice. She was obsessed with thunder and the earth in particular, the elements. She loves the word "nightmare." These poems relied more on broader, vague associations. As you get into the later poems, however, you see her turn her focus more towards the social injustice of her time - in particular, the violence done to women and black bodies. The final poem of the collection, "Need: A Chorale for Black Woman Voices," is probably the best poem in the collection. It is very sad to see, given recent events, how the material included here is not much different than what we see on the news today in terms of racism and the abuse of power. If you're interested in more of Lorde's poetry, I highly recommend "Our Dead Behind Us," which is one of my favorite poetry collections ever.
December 9, 2022
This year Audre Lorde has been an inspiration in my life for how she views and makes sense of the world around her. I started with her essays and I’m so glad I chose to read her poetry. She has a way of writing that is accessible yet challenging that causes one to think. In her poetry there is a great deal of social justice commentary which is remarkable, she says it like it is while also bringing you close to the prejudices she is confronting.
Some of my favorites of this collection include, “Need: A Chorale for Black Woman Voices,” “Sister, Morning is a Time For Miracles,” “October,” “Now,” “Song for a Thin Sister,” and “Love Poem.” A remarkable collection.
Some of my favorites of this collection include, “Need: A Chorale for Black Woman Voices,” “Sister, Morning is a Time For Miracles,” “October,” “Now,” “Song for a Thin Sister,” and “Love Poem.” A remarkable collection.
May 12, 2024
Este libro no es fácil de leer. Audre Lorde escribió desde su lugar, está lleno de interseccionalidad; habla sobre el racismo, el sexismo, la homofobia, las injusticias, etc.
Sus escritos son fuertes, algunos llenos de metáforas y otros que van directo al punto, todos generan lo mismo.
No conocía a esta poeta, no conocía su historia, y con el prólogo del libro me puse al tanto, un poco, sobre su historia. Esta recopilación de poemas demuestra como Audre intentaba darle sentido a su vida, a su situación particular, en el contexto histórico de su país.
Sus escritos son fuertes, algunos llenos de metáforas y otros que van directo al punto, todos generan lo mismo.
No conocía a esta poeta, no conocía su historia, y con el prólogo del libro me puse al tanto, un poco, sobre su historia. Esta recopilación de poemas demuestra como Audre intentaba darle sentido a su vida, a su situación particular, en el contexto histórico de su país.
January 10, 2019
Some of these poems I really loved, many of them I liked and appreciated, while others I couldn't get into as much.
With my favorites the work is stunningly powerful, with lines that lay out vivid images, unwinding with heat and intensity, unwinding in such impressive, inventive and moving ways that it is just about unbelievable. Here the talent, intelligence and sheer force of genius is easily seen.
With my favorites the work is stunningly powerful, with lines that lay out vivid images, unwinding with heat and intensity, unwinding in such impressive, inventive and moving ways that it is just about unbelievable. Here the talent, intelligence and sheer force of genius is easily seen.
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December 20, 2019Like every writer who is not good at what they like to do—Borges considers himself a poet, whereas he was widely known and acclaimed for his short stories. Sontag likes to think of herself as a novelist when she was respected as a critic. And so many others—she views herself as a poet when she is loved for her prose, and I think part of being a writer is desiring to be something you are not good at, which is, in some respects, upsetting, and in others, entertaining
April 16, 2021
“When your boyfriend methodically beats you to death
in the alley behind your apartment
and the neighbors pull down their windowshades
because they don’t want to get involved
the police call it a crime of passion
not a crime of hatred
but I still died
of a lacerated liver
and a man’s heel
imprinted upon my chest.”
Thoughts: A Choral of Black Women’s Voices (quoted above) might be the most powerful Lorde poem I’ve read so far. Multiple moments where I had to pause to remember to breathe.
in the alley behind your apartment
and the neighbors pull down their windowshades
because they don’t want to get involved
the police call it a crime of passion
not a crime of hatred
but I still died
of a lacerated liver
and a man’s heel
imprinted upon my chest.”
Thoughts: A Choral of Black Women’s Voices (quoted above) might be the most powerful Lorde poem I’ve read so far. Multiple moments where I had to pause to remember to breathe.
August 20, 2024
I've been skimming this one off and on all month - some poems stuck out to me, but overall I struggled to feel really hooked by Lorde's poetry. I loved Sister Outsider so I was eager to read some of her poems. I'm also not much of a poetry person so I've got that against my favor... I digress. Looking forward to reading more of Lorde's prose for sure.
December 20, 2024
An excellent collection of some of the best poems from Lorde’s first five poetry collections, with some great new pieces. Highlights from among the new pieces for me included “Father, The Year Has Fallen,” “Conversations in Crisis,” “The Evening News,” “Afterimages,” “October,” “Need: A Choral of Black Women’s Voices.”
August 20, 2017
Short but really powerful collection consisting of just seven poems. Afterimages (about Emmett Till) and Need: A Choral of Black Women's Voices (including Patricia Cowen and Bobbie Jean Graham) are especially devastating.
January 2, 2022
Poemas potentes, de una persona que se reinventa así misma y no acepta la injusticia que la rodea. Muy linda edición de Zindo & Gafuri que incluye los textos en su idioma original de una manera que permite ir comparando y leyendo casi a la par. Entrega de Noviembre 2021 de #Clubtifon.
July 27, 2017
3 books down for btat
April 11, 2019
perfect
January 27, 2022
Increíble, de una fuerza feroz , cada palabra te lleva a los lugares que transita , lugares abstractos y otros crudamente reales
July 4, 2023
Poesía un poquitín distinta,y me re gusto
July 5, 2023
"watching
you move
slowly out of my bed
saying we cannot waste time
only ourselves"
you move
slowly out of my bed
saying we cannot waste time
only ourselves"
January 25, 2024
Imagery is so perfect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews