
Margaret Randall: Photo by Juan Pérez

“Then I saw what the calling was :

it was the road I traveled”

- Muriel Rukeyser

My life and work have been profoundly informed by parents who gave me love and adventure, and encouraged creativity; the dramatic desert canyons, rich colors and open skies of the southwestern United States; Socialist ideals; the second wave of feminism; and the generous mentorship of many great friends and colleagues. My children, grandchildren, and great grandchild are always with me, even when far away; and my spouse Barbara is bedrock. New York’s abstract expressionist painters in the 1950s, Mexico and her struggles of the 1960s, the Cuban revolution’s second brave decade in the 1970s, the Vietnamese people’s struggle against US attack and occupation in that same decade, and the Sandinista attempt to change Nicaragua in the early 1980s were places and events that shaped me. The exploration of ancient sites continues to be a source of nourishment, and I have long been involved with oral tradition. I deeply believe in humanistic values, combating our culture of violence and greed, and art as a tool for change. I invite you to enter my website, learn about my books, read my poetry and look at my photographic images.

When I Look Into the Mirror and See You: Women, Terror and Resistance

Chapter 1 The Prism: Women’s Human Rights
Language evokes, describes, communicates. But language can also be used to obscure and mislead. It can be used to kill. Today’s political discourse, cynically manipulated, often does just that. Nowhere is this more evident than when speaking of violence. How do we define violence, who do we see as perpetrating it, which acts of violence do we condemn and which do we justify?
We call the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked the United States on (...)

Most recent articles

Latest articles

TIME’S LANGUAGE: SELECTED POEMS 1959-2018
6 February, by Margaret Randall

Ultimately, there are two kinds of poets: those who have a long vitae and those who have an amazing life. Just glancing at Margaret Randall’s list of works is enough to show us we are before a distinguished and prolific writer. Beginning with Giant of Tears in 1959, she has published over forty (...)
WHEN JUSTICE FELT AT HOME / CUANDO LA JUSTICIA SE SENTIA EN CASA
14 December 2017, by Margaret Randall

When Justice Felt at Home
Something has changed. Only old friends, those who shared split peas and white rice on sweltering Havana nights still call me compañera: sweet designation meaning comrade or friend lover or familiar in those luminous days when justice felt at home in our desire.
Now, (...)
HAYDEE SANTAMARIA: TRASPASAR LOS LIMITES
27 October 2017, by Margaret Randall
12 poetas, antología de nuevos peotas estadounidenses
27 October 2017, by Margaret Randall
EL RIZOMA COMO UN CAMPO DE HUESOS ROTOS
28 September 2017, by Margaret Randall

El rizoma como un campo de huesos rotos
De lúpulos a orquídeas, del jengibre a la flor santificada que llamamos alcatraz, un tallo horizontal o cuerpo de raíz se mueve bajo el suelo buscando su camino, escogiendo dónde despertará y se alzará en otro espejo multiplicador que alzamos a la historia. (...)