Free Yourself

REVOLUTIONARY LETTER #1

I have just realized that the stakes are myself
I have no other

ransom money, nothing to break or barter but my life

my spirit measured out, in bits, spread over

the roulette table, I recoup what I can

nothing else to shove under the nose of the maitre de jeu

nothing to thrust out the window, no white flag

this flesh all I have to offer, to make the play with

this immediate head, what it comes up with, my move

as we slither over this go board, stepping always

(we hope) between the lines

Diane di Prima
Revolutionary Letters
May 1968-December 1971
1971

Many thanks to Olympia and Colin Self for the inspiration of this compilation