Poem for Haruko

“Poem for My Love” by June Jordan (2005)

In this brief love poem Jordan considers her sleeping lover as well as the night, which holds both longing and peace.

“It’s Hard to Keep a Clean Shirt Clean” by June Jordan (2005)

As in “Poem for Haruko,” this longer poem uses everyday objects and details of nature to speak about human conditions, including aspiration, regret, consequence, transformation, and endurance.

“Poem about My Rights” by June Jordan (2005)

This poem illustrates the ways in which Jordan dissolves any separation between her own experience of sex, gender, race, and relationships and her art. In this poem, the poet parses global political and social situations through her body.

“Recreation” by Audre Lord (1997)

This love poem by Audre Lord employs images of fire and flower to express and celebrate passionate intimacy.

“Thaw” by TC Tolbert (2014)

In this poem, the speaker expresses love and loss and longing through a mix of concrete objects, dialogue, wordplay, and the concept of bloom as associated with both flora and ice.