We Are the Open We Need: The Need Ensemble Opens Up

The brilliant and brave Brilliance Remastered Need Ensemble has me wide open, reaching into my dreams and the dreams of my ancestors.   Last night after working with Audre Lorde's Coal and my brother Seneca's teachings about the relationships between dreams, wisdom and nightmares we wrote this poem together.   May you be as open to it as you need to be.


We Are the Open We Need

“Love is a word, another kind of open.”
-Audre Lorde “Coal”

ancestors screaming in my ear: open
headache in the center of my forehead open
fears open. hate open. terrors open. light open
pain i can use, open
i been here before, open

got my heart and ears ready to hear whatever you have to say open
remembering grandmothers with cleansing tears open
got my door open come in any time type open
mountains open with wisdom and protection open
rocks under pillows open

letting the light in open
magic portals open
sky open

hitting the ground so that i CAN open
breathing so my breathing can breathe open
alchemizing wasted-blood-into-lifeblood open

spirit emerging through this physical body open
legs open mouth open nostrils flaring open
arms stretched wide ready to receive open
water rum juice and tea bladders open
shamefully open. embrassingly open.
listening to my body, open
ecstatic womb open
birth open

hands open
hands reached out to hold other hands open
hands up to the computer open

heart open
heart mind body break-through open
breaking down emotional walls open

sleeping under the stars open
dancing in the rain open
rural night sky open
tired, good tired open
fed souls--open
chest crackingly open
belly laughing out loud open

eyes open with clarity open
knowing i'm noteworthy open
nobody can see me who i can't see open
dr. g arms open open
building community open
faith open


bars open
asylum open
borders open
church open
temples open
mosque open
altars open
mounds open
heaven open

consent open
lovers open
words open
need that tastes like love open
futures open
past open
now open
love open
faith open
ritual open
mothering ourselves open

in love with the souls making up this webinar open
seeing my reflection in you, open
saying your name in my prayers, open
seeing your smile open
universe open
we are the open we've been waiting for open
we are the open we need
open