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Sleeping with the Dictionary (audio only)

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Harryette Mullen
1953 –

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Harryette Mullen
Photo credit: Judy Natal

Harryette Mullen’s work is driven by wordplay, allusion, and popular cliche, and is centered in a larger tradition of African American writing.

About Harryette Mullen

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More by this poet

Conversation in Isolation

Neighbors nail the planks
dividing their yard from mine.
Our durable fence.

I walk half a block
before realizing I’ve
forgotten my mask.

One ant following
another, trusting we all
are going somewhere.

Harryette Mullen
2021

All She Wrote

Forgive me, I’m no good at this. I can’t write back. I never read your letter.

I can’t say I got your note. I haven’t had the strength to open the envelope.

The mail stacks up by the door. Your hand’s illegible. Your postcards were

defaced. Wash your wet hair? Any document you meant to send has yet to

reach me. The untied parcel service never delivered. I regret to say I’m

Harryette Mullen
1997

Shedding Skin

Pulling out of the old scarred skin
(old rough thing I don't need now
I strip off
slip out of
leave behind)

I slough off deadscales
flick skinflakes to the ground

Shedding toughness
peeling layers down
to vulnerable stuff

And I'm blinking off old eyelids
for a new way of seeing

By the rock I rub against
I'm going to be tender again
Harryette Mullen
1981

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