Basho & Mandela

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By Juan Felipe Herrera



As Basho has said —

it is a narrow road to the Deep North — as Mandela has said

the haphazard segregation later became a well-orchestrated

segregation

— as Basho has said the journey began with an attained

awareness

that at any moment you can become a weather-exposed skeleton

— think of us in this manner

these are notes for your nourishment — hold them

as bowls of kindness

from journeys of bravery

the will to seek & find the sudden turning rivers & the dawn-eyed


freedom

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