Clothes that Survived the Revolution by Najya Williams

Clothes that Survived the Revolution
by Najya Williams

Clothes that Survived the Revolution 
after Patricia McCarthy’s “Clothes that escaped the Great War”

Not the expected ghosts: Black leather jackets and lace up boots,
perfectly picked afros and winged black eyeliner, nor Kente cloth
adorned fists on sweatshop produced T-shirts sold in department stores.

But instead, we came face to face with: the scarf knitted
by my best friend Cassandra’s grandmother that kept her warm on
those late nights pounding the pavement beneath tear gas.

The hand sewn quilt from Aunt Lillian’s old chest that held my tears
when I received word that the struggle was over and I could finally rest
without fearing for what would await me after I reopened my eyes.

Bell bottom jeans thrifted from the local hidden hem that sat with me
at the feet of the elders while we blessed the babies who won’t ever
know the pain and agony from which they had to be born.

Yet, these were the most scary to recall: the quiet fabric of peace
swaying in the air, as if tethered to the now bare pole where the
American flag once proudly stood over us all.

And the soft fleece of communal healing encasing me in an embrace
that I once wouldn't even dare to dream of, lest I be carved into a 
lesson and cautionary tale to be heard of, but never truly known.

After centuries of praying for the chains to be broken and the
Revolution burn its way to the Promised Land, no one advised me on 
what to do with the clothes that survived, but must be left behind.

Hear Najya Williams recite the poem on the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast:

Najya A. Williams (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist who floats along the U.S. East Coast. She graduated from Harvard College, and is a 2025 M.D. and Narrative Medicine Program Graduate from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Temple University). Najya is devoted to the liberation and healing of all oppressed peoples, and this passion is reflected in many of her projects, service efforts and literary works. Her poetry, essays, and other writings have been accepted and/or published by a number of organizations, including POETRY Magazine, Black Youth Projectand Healing Points. Currently, she is also a Managing Editor for the Katz Journal of Medicine and Board of Director Member for Girls Health Ed, Inc. Looking ahead, Najya hopes to inspire full-body wellness across the world, one word and patient visit at a time. Instagram: @NajyaWilliams Website: NajyaWilliams.com