Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you well and safe. It has been two months now of shelter in place and I am learning more about what I need vs. want day by day. I have not been writing. That was hard to type because I feel like I should be writing. But that is not what I need right now. I need quiet. Stillness. I need to listen. I need to check on and care for family and friends. I need to share what I can with my community. I need to listen and sit with this moment. I know the writing will come later - it never leaves me - but it must make its way through the body and spirit first. Take your time.

How are you listening and tending to yourself? What do you need?

I am cleaning and decluttering my space and mind. I am mailing cards to my people so they know I’m thinking of them. I am calling my mamas and making sure they are okay. I am talking with my adult daughters and enjoying our growth together. I am sitting with my husband and loving the simple moments we share - coffee in the morning, stargazing in the backyard at night, falling asleep together on the couch snuggled up after watching our favorite shows on Netflix (we finished Ozark and enjoy Nailed It!).

If you are able, how are you supporting your community?

I am making donations to the Central Texas Food Bank, collecting resources (masks and gloves) to support my daughter Zayna who works as a home health caregiver for senior citizens, and, as always, supporting Cave Canem Foundation, Inc. with a monthly recurring donation to support Black poets during this time and to invest in the future of Black poetics.

This is a challenging time, but we are stronger together. Thank you for practicing social distancing, staying home if you can, and being gentle with yourself and others.

Onward with love,

Amanda

P.S. Shout out to my friend Nichole Warren for making this mask for me, my family and cable maintenance techs working hard to keep Internet, cable, and phone services up and running!