Why Paper

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I make paper because I must

because my hands hunger for the wet

plant, for the earth fruit, for

the cool mash                     because it is

of sun and green and sea                       because I am

mostly water and this is about water,

coming and going           giving and taking in

                              because I write

because I yearn and paper is a blanket

and a shield and a substrate

for song and moment and image

and air

                    because paper can shape space.

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—Akua Lezli Hope

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