To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And thats political, in its most profound way. – June Jordan
I wrote those poems for myself, as a way of being a soldier here in this country. I didnt know the poems would travel. I didnt go to Lebanon until two years ago, but people told me that many Arabs had memorized these poems and translated them into Arabic. – June Jordan
So, poetry becomes a means for useful dialogue between people who are not only unknown, but mute to each other. It produces a dialogue among people that guards all of us against manipulation by our so-called leaders. – June Jordan
In the process of telling the truth about what you feel or what you see, each of us has to get in touch with himself or herself in a really deep, serious way. – June Jordan
The Germans are the most philosophic people in the world, and the greatest smokers: now I trace their philosophy to their smoking. Smoking has a sedative effect upon the nerves, and enables a man to bear the sorrows of this life (of which every one has his share) not only decently, but dignifiedly. – George Borrow