I remember when I first heard the greeting “I am ugly but I am here.” It struck a nerve in me. At first off putting, it’s actually a quite beautiful sentiment. At least to me. And then I read Danticat’s essay titled “We are Ugly, But We are Here” and I was hooked.
I can’t really explain why I am so endeared to the greeting, but I am. Maybe Lucille Clifton’s “Won’t You Celebrate with Me” (my FAVORITE poem!) below can help you understand why I am so attracted to this phrase and to Celie’s proclamation to Mister (in The Color Purple) that she may be ugly but she’s here.
Sometimes, there are times when I find myself discouraged and angry about the many mis-steps I’ve made along my way. I allow myself to occasionally explore my tears and the pain, but I consciously end my day knowing that despite my mistakes…despite my errors…despite all my ugly, I am still here. And being here means that I still have a chance, to make things better.
"won’t you celebrate with me"
won’t you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
Always true,
Dr. Tip