During the days between Halifax’s monthly spoken-word event Speak!,
lyrical minds can feast on Word Warriors, an anthology of fierce
women writers. Edited by Alix Olson, this collection features a forward
by legendary vagina warrior Eve Ensler. A large portion of Word
Warriors explores narratives of struggle. Each writer fights for
the language of expression. They grapple with the will to write,
self-identity and creating their space as women in the world.
Michelle Tea recalls her time in lesbian-feminist art collective
Sister Spit, rhythmically describing the trials of creating a space
within the “overlooked patches of feminist experience.”
Sylvia Plath is an icon most female artists study or contemplate,
perhaps to the point that it’s overdone and cliche. But Karen
Garrabrant’s “A Sylvia Plath Sliver,” considers the late poetess’
ability to keep honing her craft in the midst of depression,
domesticity and motherhood, with skill.
Leah Harris’ “Revenge of the Crazy Wimmin” travels through madness
and beyond. Nomy Lamm boldly writes about physical disabilities and the
birth of her body sanctuary. Her call to arms echoes aspects of
Kathleen Hanna’s quintessential early ’90s “Riot Girl Manifesto.” Rage
on ladies, rage on.
This article appears in May 7-13, 2009.
