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January 3, 2013

Poet, Civil Rights Activist Jayne Cortez Dies at 76 
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The poet, spoken-word performer and civil rights activist Jayne Cortez
has died at the age of 76. Cortez published numerous books of poetry and
put out several records of her words set to music. This is Cortez
performing one of her best-known poems, "I Am New York City."

Jayne Cortez: "_i am new york city_
here is my brain of hot sauce
my tobacco teeth my
 mattress of bedbug tongue
legs apart hand on chin
 war on the roof insults
pointed fingers pushcarts
my contraceptives all

look at my pelvis blushing

i am new york city of blood
police and fried pies
i rub my docks red with grenadine
and jelly madness in a flow of tokay
my huge skull of pigeons
my seance of peeping toms
my plaited ovaries excuse me
this is my grime my thigh of
steelspoons and toothpicks
 i imitate no one."

Jayne Cortez died on December 28.

 

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