Graphic Design By, Cody "Leviticus" Norris
There are phenomenal women who surround me. Some exist in the flesh and others in spirit and they guide me toward a better version of myself. Each day they remind me of my possibilities and their expectations and desire to render them proud is what sculpts me into the woman you see, hear, and experience through art. I have a friend who I met through this social medium called Facebook. She lives in the UK and we never shook hands, hugged, or shared eye contact to create a sister bond, we instant messaged our way into the other’s experience. It seems I visit a deep dark midnight blue place more often than I care to admit and she found me in the core of one. She introduced herself and spoke candidly about how my work as an artist has had a positive effect on her life. She is a cancer survivor who has developed it once again and she has been going through chemotherapy. During her treatments she uses my poem “I Am A Poem” as her mantra. When her daughter needs to chill out a while she plays the poem for her and it is the only thing that keeps her calm. I learned this while questioning why I keep trying and for what when so much of the rest of my life seemed to be in shambles. She typed confirmation that my art is my light. She reminds me each day that there is a purpose and my effort is not in vain.
September 25, 2010 marks one year since the transition of Zannette Lewis. In this past year I have witnessed a legacy take its place. We have honored her through poetry, students have gone to college standing on the foundation of her work, she has a holiday in her name, we have regular conversations about what she would think and how we should take action in ways that would make her proud. Stage four cancer didn’t sound like she would not survive when I heard it. I heard that she was on her way to a survival story and we just needed to be present as her support. Even went so far as to imagine her speaking to a room full of people about this miracle she experienced called survival. Even went as far as an attempt to convince her that survival was hers and she would be here to experience the turn around.
This time, I will not let my need for a miracle blind me from the reality of what is happening. I will listen to the truth as it settles into my ears and make sure it doesn’t turn into a hum so that we can experience what time we do have together. Not one minute it took to read this was promised or owed to us, they were all gifted. Life changes in an instant and while I am the first to admit that I rush through many of my moments, I am also the first to admit that I should embrace them all and carry the love filled ones for as long as possible. Love is the only thing we can take with us and leave behind when we transition. The way we speak, support, encourage, and embrace others is what determines our legacy. It is what makes others decide that we should always be remembered. Zannette kicked up a lot of dirt while she was here by making it her mission to educate children, provide platforms for poets to be heard, and read her way into so many hearts. Everyone says rest in peace but I believe she is kicking up clouds in heaven and making sure people have open spirits so they can embrace their new existence.
My sister/friend says she understands that death is a part of life and she is laying this struggle in God’s hands. That is a courageous act of faith that must be respected. I will not fill her head with talk of survival but I will continue to pray for her miracle. She is trying to change the world so her daughter’s have a greater place to exist and the way she loves the people in her life is her legacy. The way she sends love and speaks of her victories while experiencing so much pain makes her a living testimony to how humans are positioned to save each other. Her presence in my life has saved me from that deep dark midnight blue place more times than I can count. The thoughts are blocked by proof that the strokes of our pens and paintbrushes create more than a story, but a reflection for much needed light in dark places.
LOVE.
