---
title: "Chris Mantegna  Graduate Student     SAFS  ||   University of Washington"
image: MantegnaChrisPhoto.JPG
about:
  template: trestles
  image-shape: round
  links:
    - icon: twitter
      text: Twitter
      href: https://twitter.com/SaffireSeahorse
    - icon: linkedin
      text: LinkedIn
      href: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmantegna
    - icon: github
      text: Github
      href: https://github.com/ChrisMantegna
---

## won't you celebrate with me

by [Lucille
Clifton](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/lucille-clifton)

won't you celebrate with me\
what i have shaped into a kind of life? i had no model.\
born in babylon\
both nonwhite and\
woman what did i see to be except myself?\
i made it up\
here on this bridge between\
starshine and clay,\
my one hand holding tight\
my other hand; come celebrate\
with me that everyday\
something has tried to kill me\
and has failed.
