Windstorm Creative Ltd., September 2000
Buy This Book
For an autographed copy of any of Lesléa’s books, please send an email directly to her at leslea@lesleakids.com
Originally published in two volumes which have gone out of print, this exciting collection explores deeply personal, yet profoundly universal issues such as childhood trauma and abuse, healing and self-love, family relationships and sexuality. These poems will elicit laughter and tears, heartfelt recognition and an appreciation for what makes us most human—love, desire, family, personal courage and joy.
Reviews
“From humorous comments on our lesbian communities to lovely and luscious erotica, Newman celebrates, honors and explores her lesbian life and ours…Lesléa Newman is a lesbian poet who speaks to our hearts and minds with a profoundly original voice.”
“If you’ve ever been left by a lover or left one, if you’ve ever been plagued by feeling fat or skinny, or by the absurdities of your job, met yourself, hated yourself or fallen in love with yourself, Lesléa Newman’s poetry is for you.”
“Newman is particularly talented at describing the complicated situation of the lesbian in the close-knit Jewish family. She is equally skilled at depicting the dulling day jobs many women find themselves in. There are fine love poems too, many humorous and pithy.”
Excerpts
Ode to My Hips
Look out boy
these hips are coming through!
These hips’ll knock you off your feet
if you don’t make room for them to move.
These hips sway
these hips sashay
these ain’t no size 3 1/2 slim Brooke Shields
teenage boy hypocritical hips—
these hips are woman hips!
These hips are wide
these hips hypnotize
these hips fill a skirt
the way the wind fills a sail.
These hips have chutzpah
they think they can change the whole world!
When I take these hips out
for a walk on the street
and the sun is shining
and my bones are gleaming
I place my hands on these two hips
and let them speak the truth.
©2000 Lesléa Newman
First Woman
First Woman
stood behind me
lifting a kimono to my shoulders
and I was the sky
with blue cranes gliding
to my feet
First Woman
lay above me
face full as the moon
casting shadows of light
across my breasts and belly
with her eyes
First Woman
asleep beside me
arms around my waist
like a tight silk sash
as I listen to her breath
falling all around me like snow
©2000 Lesléa Newman
What Good
A black plastic garbage bag
shiny as a pair of patent leather pumps
gleaming like a chunk of midnight
in the middle of the day
smooth as an onyx ring
on a young girl’s finger
sleek as the wing of a crow
or the belly of a snake
slithering through the grass
oh what good are these words
that can make anything pretty
even a black plastic garbage bag
wrapped around a woman
whose black eyes shone like patent leather
whose black hair gleamed like onyx
whose black skin was sleek
as the wing of a crow
or the belly of a snake
before three white cops
beat her bruised her battered her
and left her broken
and bleeding body
in a black plastic garbage bag
never to walk the streets again
stunning as a chunk of midnight
in the middle of the day
©2000 Lesléa Newman
Tomatoes
plump
round
juicy
solid
firm
fleshy
meaty
tender
succulent
sweet
sun-ripened
mouth-watering
deliciousness
dripping
down
my
chin
oh I love
Big Girls
©2000 Lesléa Newman