BELOVED by Toni Morrison

” In this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard.
Love your hands! Love them. Raise them up and kiss them. Touch others with them, pat them together, stroke them on your face …
Love your mouth … This is flesh … Flesh that needs to be loved. Feet that need to rest and to dance; backs that need support; shoulder that need arms, strong arms … Love your neck; put a hand on it, grace it, stroke it and hold it up. And all your inside parts that they’d just as soon slop for hogs, ou got to love them. The dark, dark liver – love it, love it, and the beat and beating heart, love that too. More than eyes or feet. More than lungs have yet to draw free air. More than your life-holding womb and your life-giving private parts …
Love your heart. For this is the prize.”

Toni Morrison: Beloved, 1987