Tender -- Exits from Elmina Castle: Cape Coast, Ghana -- When my father was beating me -- Black boys play the classics -- Shoe repair business -- Brother -- Family secrets -- After a reading at a black college -- For black women who are afraid -- Passing -- Inventory -- Bookstore -- At a cocktail party honoring a noted old southern writer -- Workshop on racism -- Invisible dreams -- Two poems -- 1:30 A.M.

Dead baby speaks -- The body awakening -- For Sharan Strange, after a reading -- For Sister Sue Ellen and her special messenger -- At Wintergreen: a retreat for African-American women writers -- The origins of the artist: Natalie Cole -- On Katchimac Bay: Homer, Alaska -- Coming -- From a letter: about snow -- Death at Still Point -- The blessing -- Not forgotten -- The touch -- Grace Paley reading -- In the mountains -- On the miracle of the crying statue: before you begin -- Clitoris.