6 Quotes by Hannah V. Sawyerr

I grew into my hips when I was seventeen years oldI learned from my motherShe used hers like a boatTo bring my father home,Ashore.

It is not your job to understand. Sick people do sick things. You do not understand the mind of an abuser, because you are not sick like one.

Testifying against my abuseris not about a trialor about revengeThis is a woman learningthat to wear the burden of hurtbut to deprive herself of the blessing that is healingis its own injustice.

I shoot the man who told me my womanism is of the devilAs if he knew the demons that trouble meThese demons that trouble meHave no trouble shooting youThey shoot youThey will not prayFor God’s forgivenessI always knewI had a little bit of heathen in me.Always knewI had a lot of woman in me.We shoot you

People are not objectsThey are not meant for fixingAnd while I’ve sometimes been able to preserve—You can never revive a dead thing

When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just know, you are in the presence of man who knows what the sting of assimilation is.