Natasha Ksonzek, pág 64

Natasha Ksonzek

Natasha Ksonzek is an Artist, writer and publisher in Toronto Canada. She co-authored Closed Entrances: Canadian Culture and Imperialism, with Arnold Itwaru. With him she was also co-organizer of the conference series Racism and National Consciousness at New College, University of Toronto for 16 years. Her MA thesis and forthcoming book entitled “Invisible Imperialism” looks into the normalizing of historical and contemporary racism, occupation, exploitation and cultural domination in museum curating practices in the Royal Ontario Museum and The Museum of History in Hull, Quebec, (formerly The Museum of Civilization). She is publisher of the anti imperialist anti racist press Other Eye Books.She has had many art exhibitions in Toronto, has designed book covers and even a theatre backdrop early on. From 2010-2013 she was one MC for Sunday Poetry at Ellington’s Music and café,and a founding member of The Peoples Poetry Music and Art Festival in Toronto. Her forthcoming poetry book is: “Heartstrong: Poems of the Heart for the People/ Words to see and strengthen by.”

https://youtu.be/cj18LWRSc5k

For You who have been sharing this sacred Life with me, For You whom I have grown with and because of

MEET ME

Meet me On the other side Over the hill Beside the waters of our continuing journey Meet me beyond the prisons of words and lies they try to hold us in and lull us to sleep Meet me where the breeze blows in intensities and keeps me awake Meet me in the paths of the familiar too The contours of us of our doing and dreaming, living in me Meet me when the time is right Here in the Beauty and Love and Light we are making Let. Us. Meet. Meet me in the full spirit of our Doing Meet me in the fires that we keep Meet me in my thirst and Meet me in my love of flowing; I am water, take... Meet me in this fire, In your hunger In your giving me have we met Meet me in this journey to know Meet me In this moment we have Let us meet

There are those among us who guide us, By example, by their words and hearts Giving their light of knowing Lighting the way – There are those close to us Who give us strength hope and sight every day, Whose importance to our journey is not always formally acknowledged. They give because they care. They are bearers of an ancient culture of love. We are all of ancient cultures of love Let us remember

THIS IS A POEM TO YOU ITWARU / LOVE IN ACTION

You have helped me see How to live With dignity With love in action Mind not stilled by capitalism’s stealth You who have helped me see Have given me the breadth depth and courage To speak as I see To not hide in other’s formulations, presumptions and theories To not get caught there To extricate myself from the vestiges Of their blinding harmful malforming order To see through their lies You have encouraged my own vision and words Have given me Love That helps me Be and see and grow Beyond their inhumanity You live your example, and teach us, With your commitment to truth The truth of the word The truth of the person Not hiding in styles of clothing or language, A gift to us all In this culture of deceit Where what you are taught to be How you are taught to show your self Is not you Are contortions they trained you in For so long now it might seem normal You give freely Of yourself when you speak to us To instil in us the reminder That becomes ever present, To “Think on these things”! To be who we are To emerge from the darkened beliefs of the Day’s controllers And I now have my words To use to See To share To call Truth And we make our way And change our times One Heart more One Soul more One Life more at a time Together Our Love in action Thank You Itwaru