Coping by Audre Lorde

Does the constant barrage of global news make you want to turn off the screens and bury your head? You aren’t alone. In a world that feels like a "round puddle of sunless water," how do we keep going? In this episode of Words That Burn, I analyse Audre Lorde’s powerful poem, "Coping." Written by the self-described "Black lesbian mother warrior poet," this piece from The Black Unicorn collection offers a vital lesson on resilience, parenting as revolution, and the refusal to drown easily. We explore Lorde’s legacy as a "bridge builder" and how her seminal philosophies, including The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle The Master's House; inform this seemingly simple image of a boy bailing rainwater from a garden. In this episode, I cover: The Poem: A line-by-line analysis of "Coping" and its biblical vs. humanist metaphors. The Context: How Lorde’s travels to Benin and her experience with motherhood shaped her activism. The Philosophy: Understanding the "architecture of difference" and intersectionality. The Takeaway: Why preserving "young seeds" is crucial for the future of society. If you are feeling the weight of the world, let Audre Lorde’s words be the spark you need to keep doing the work. Follow the Podcast: Read the Script on Substack Follow the Podcast On Instagram Follow the Podcast on X/Twitter Follow the Podcast on Tiktok Follow the podcast on Bluesky The Music In This Week's Episode: 'Penumbra' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.