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Amanda Johnston
Cave Canem fellow and Affrilachian poet, Amanda Johnston has performed across the country for various causes and events. Honors include a 2003 and 2004 Artists Enrichment grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the 2005 Austin International Poetry Festival Christina Sergeyevna Award for Best Poem in their anthology, di-verse-city. Currently, Johnston serves on the Board of Directors for the National Women's Alliance, is a member of The Austin Project - a collaborative venture among women of color artists, scholars, and activists led by Sharon Bridgforth and Dr. Omi Osun Olomo, is a co-founder of The Gibbous Moon Collective and founding editor of Torch: poetry, prose, and short stories by African American Women. www.torchpoetry.org |
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Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, explain.
Fighting devils ain’t new to me. Hell, I’ve been fighting them since I was born. They always come looking like men I love. Mama showed me how to cradle their fire until the heat no longer singed my arms. We learned to swallow our salt and peppered tongues with ease. One will sacrifice everything in hell’s kitchen, but not my babies. I always fed them something sweeter, saving the brine and rinds for myself. I like to bake. Even know how to make most stuff from scratch. I can dice, julienne, and score an apple pie crust like in Woman’s Day Magazine. Didn’t mean to make his face flower like that, forgot I was even holding the knife. Boom, Boom, Boom – ever heard the devil beating at your front door hungry and clawing for neck bones? Forgot exactly how the blood spilled, tried to tell the police that. I like to bake. My babies need to eat. For years I cooked for other inmates. Guess you could say I’m experienced. Let me show you. I promise I’ll do a good job. |