> in the cannery the porpoise soul
You're tuning into Cheers, a newsletter made by Tiffany Xie. This week: recipe aspirations, the Combahee River Collective, and the porpoise soul.
Hello friend,
> Making: this butternut squash pasta bake (h/t Naomi) and turkey chili! Maybe also some pork rilletes? Also, I miss mince pies.
> Lots of fall birthdays coming up here, so I’ve been eyeing Michelle Polzine’s Russian Honey Cake (adapted by Samin!).
> I’ve been browsing knitting patterns and came upon these gorgeous daisy mittens. Hope I improve my knitting skills enough to make them one day!
> Just started reading How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective, edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and feeling like it should be required reading.
> “In the Cannery the Porpoise Soul” by Juan Felipe Herrera:
In the cannery the porpoise soul
& the shadow fins of spirit boats lie awake
the hundred hooks & flying reels
one harpoon
& the silver fleshing in the nets
the mayor is waiting/counting scales
dreaming new quotas & tuna coasts
(under the table blood & payrolls
swim to the shores on a crucifix of oil)
in the cannery the porpoise soul
steals a dagger for the engines throat
tuna fins etch an X
on the green stone of the ships floor
there are documents with worker sweat
files & rolled sleeve salt
a spear of sails & anchor years
(lost)
inside the shoulders & against the ropes
(somehow)
a policy gunned the waves back
before the porpoise sea was born
> Sun brought to you by Faith Ringgold.
Cheers,
Tiffany