September 28, 1996
Take Back the Night
poem by Anitra L. Freeman
Running with the wolves means
going straight for my food
eating all I need
taking compliments
running with those who inspire me
showing my heels
to those who would drag me down
and tonight I am running with the wolves
a pack of women hundreds strong
marching down dark streets and alleys
howling down the moon.
"Women united
Take back the night!
Women united
Take back the night!"
Running with the wolves means
facing straight toward my fear
smelling it out
running it down
and tonight I am running with the wolves.
"Yes means yes!
No means no!
Whatever we wear!
Wherever we go!"
Running with the wolves
Second Avenue
is a spiritual path.
There, Shiva
has shaved his head
bought a black leather jacket and a switchblade
developed Tourette's Syndrome.
Four hundred wolves circle him
shouting bright fire in his face
and Shiva remembers
he was supposed to dance.
"Out of the bars
and into the streets!
Out of the bars
and into the streets!"
And Shiva remembers he was supposed to dance
the death of old ideas
like
women
are afraid
to run.
Wolves run down Crack Alley.
There, Athena wears black leather, too.
She has a nose ring
and her cheek's tattooed
with teardrops
of blood.
She's freebasing,
heating the rocks
in the cups of her armor
with one of Vulcan's discarded torches.
Wolves sing to her.
Wolves rush her up among them.
She breathes wolf breath and wolf musk.
Athena remembers
the wisdom of women
warriors of life.
Running with the wolves.
Take Back the Night.