Dorothy Perry Thompson

DOROTHY PERRY THOMPSON

Before her untimely death in 2002, Dorothy Perry Thompson published poems in Black American Literature Forum, Caesura, Catalyst, The Sucarnochee Review, Carolina Literary Companion, From the Green Horseshoe: Poems by James Dickey's Students, and The African-American Review.

She was a former member of the Board of Governors of the South Carolina Academy of Authors.

She was on the faculty of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she taught poetry-writing, African-American Studies, Black Literature, and other English courses.

To Danya, My Daughter

After the choosing, earth
or a high crypt in the left arm
of the cross at Elmwood,

after the strong arms
of your husband, your brother's tears,

come tell my spirit.

After the long drive to leave me,
the slow black line,

tell them the purple click
of my heels on the dance floor
and the swirls of silk
tickling my legs.

Tell them the lines
I put down against
agony, the verse after verse
for joy.

Tell them the times
I knew the Great Ancestor Goddess
would hold me above
that last shaking.

Have them wear my shoes
and eat my lines.

Then, come, daughter. Come
tell my spirit
again and again.
I will hear you
and I will
be glad.

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