Amber

“Sometimes there's nothing
to be done.
Sometimes
they're not listening,
can't hear,
don't want to,
don't believe you.
Sometimes
you cannot stop the storm,
stem the tide,
change the path of the ocean liner
even though it hasn't quite yet hit the iceberg.

There will be times
despite all efforts
you will feel
completely misunderstood
completely unappreciated
completely wronged.

Sometimes love
just
isn't enough.”
― Shellen Lubin

“Witnesses.
Help us see how others see.
Help us see ourselves from another
vantage point,
a larger landscape,
a different view.

Witnesses.
Reality checks.
Mirrors.
Cameras.
Other lenses.
Different views.

They can save us from our worst possible choices
or from participating in someone else's.”
― Shellen Lubin

“This is one of the harshest after effects of the pandemic
that I am witnessing some
and experiencing some,
a diminished ability to deal with resistance,
and so
a willingness to stay in one place for too long,
shut off from the outside world,
nose in phone or binge-watching
some show
when once upon a time
we used to have to wait a week for the next installment
and discussed it with colleagues over water coolers
and over landlines with friends.

We need colleagues.
We need friends.”
― Shellen Lubin

“Do you see it?
Do you get it?
Are you clear on
What's going on?
White women are subjugated (as human beings)
even when elevated (as muses and objects of desire).
Black men are infantilized intellectually (to diminish power)
and aged-up physically (to increase threat).
Black women are subjugated, infantilized, and aged-up,
expected to selflessly carry everyone else.
Immigrants and people of color
are supposed to dedicate their lives to the illusion--the lottery--
of the American Dream,
by actually feeding the American Machine.”
― Shellen Lubin