“I found that my wounds begin to heal
when the voices of those endangered by silence are given power.
The silence of hopelessness, of despair
buried in the depths of poverty, violence, racism are more deathly than bullets.
The gift of light, in our compassion, our listening, our works of love,
Is the gift of love to ourselves.”
Janice Mirikitani, 2000 San Francisco Poet Laureate & Activist
In this critical time of distrust, suspicion and hostility, we celebrate the prophetic words of poet Janice Mirikitani—written more than two decades ago: “The gift of light, in our compassion, our listening, our works of love … is the gift of love to ourselves.”
—Cathy Betts Sapunor
