How to Be Pure

By: Katie Manning, PhD (she/her) Professor of Writing

Before we read poetry in a large noisy room

where several people actually did try

to listen, a poet with a long beard

whom I hadn’t met yet arrived

late and introduced himself,

walking down the line to shake every hand

until he got to mine. “I can’t touch women

who aren’t my wife,” he said, smiling

at my outstretched hand as if

I’d done something silly

by putting my hand out when he reached me.

Surprisingly, because I usually know, I

hadn’t realized until that moment

I was the only woman present—

Before this man arrived,

I’d mistaken myself for a poet among poets.

We didn’t even exchange names. Maybe

women’s names are also off limits

for him, but my mom named me

“pure” on purpose, so I know

my name, at least, is safe to touch. And

here I am, thinking of this at the start

of a new year, seven years later,

writing these words with my

unshakeable right hand.

I do shake my fist at all who use God

as an excuse to exclude—but now,

after seven years of holding onto

something like embarrassment

mixed with anger, I will send

these feelings away and agree: No, man.

You can’t touch me.

~

Katie Manning, PhD (she/her)

Professor of Writing

After Reminiscing with a Friend about 90s Purity Culture, I Make a Found Poem from Snow Blower Instructions

this   now   is only as safe as

you

STOP

DO

NOT

leave

DO NOT

stay

hidden

DO NOT

fall

especially

in reverse

be careful to avoid

the damage before you start

DO NOT

get caught in moving parts

DO NOT

touch

or

coo

before touching