The holidays were good to me. I went to a place that I so disliked and that was so devoid of the cultural stimulation that I crave that I had no other choice but to be still. To eat and to breathe and then to eat again.

 

I went to Florida and spent time with my in-laws. People I love in a place that I hate. And it was the right thing for me, at that time.

 

And in the milieu of vacation days when you can’t tell if it’s Tuesday or Sunday I found myself in the natural hypnagogic state where all creativity lives and from that place, I was quiet.  And then I found time to scroll on Insta and find a post . . . a reel really on blackgirl yoga that reminded me again (helped me to re-member) the power of thoughtfulness. The magic of acknowledgement, especially when it is unsolicited, and always when it is heartfelt. This is love by another name We call it consideration.

 

It’s seeing the Blackness even when it’s not February, the womanness even when it’s not March, the humanity even when we don’t share blood.  I crave that kind of love. 

 

It’s a new year, and while we nurse old wounds into a new time, I hope we can re-member, and I hope we can slow down enough to think of each other.  That is consideration.

 

And I wonder if people will take the time to consider, to be considerate, to take into consideration. . .each other. 

 

I wrote something for this season.  I hope it speaks to you.  Let it be a new day.

 

quiet song

 

i can’t get no consideration

i can’t get no consideration

and i have tried and tried and tried and tried

i can’t get none. No one.

 

 

When i am living my life 

And the violence comes

And they telling me more and more

About some useless configuration 

Supposed to drive my motivation

  

i can’t get no, no none, none at all

Ay ay ay ay, that’s what i been saying

 

No consideration

i can’t get no consideration

And i have tried, and i’ve cried and i try and i cry

i get none, they give me none

 

When i’m working for free

And they tell me

Who i am supposed to be

But they can’t explain to me 

What rights set me free

 

i can’t get no, no no, no none

Ay ay ay ay, i been said what i got to say

 

Ain’t no consideration

i can’t get none

And i’ve tried and i’ve cried 

i have pleaded and begged

i begged and i bled

 

When i’m out in this world

Being the Magic of that girl

And i’m trying to change the world 

But nobody cares ‘bout this girl

 

i can’t get no, no none

Do you hear what i say?

 

I can’t get no, no none

No consideration, no consideration

No consideration, no consideration

I get none

 

So i stop
-Marie Deveaux January 6, 2025