I found all of the responses in this thread very enlightening. I have seen Saul Williams perform (at an open mic I co-sponsored in DC actually) and I think he is one of the most talented poets of our generation. The words in the liner notes disturbed me, however. <P>Some quick comments...<P>Naz noted (perhaps jokingly) that without "man" woman is "only wo". HOWEVER, without "woman", <BR>"man" does not exist at all. <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"><P>The sister who pointed out "fe" is "iron" made a poignant statement. I'll store that in my poetic database.<P>Nesta, I certainly see your point. You are a "glass is half full" optimistic type of brother. I like that. I vacillate b/t pessimism and optimism.<P>Because Saul is such a great artist, I will adopt Nesta's interpretation and assume that Saul's intent was indeed satirical. His mind works on so many levels, sometimes it's hard to know exactly what his intent was...and I went on face value. <P>The liner notes, like most of Saul's works, was brilliantly written.<P>To the poster who suggest I read "S/he", that is on my to-do list.<P>To those who are interested, I was an extra in Saul's movie "Slam". I doubt you will be able to recognize me in the film unless I point myself out to you, because my head is cut out of the shot. <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"><P>(I am standing, while the other folks in the shot are sitting...I was in the outdoor scene where DJ Renegade read...if you haven't read DJ Renegade's poetry, you're missing out...also, please please please check for Ernesto ...excellent poet, straight from DC. Toni Lightfoot is bad too)<P>Peace,<P>Spirit<BR><a href="http://amphibians.iuma.com" target="_blank">http://amphibians.iuma.com<;/a><BR><a href="http://infiniteloop.iuma.com" target="_blank">http://infiniteloop.iuma.com<;/a><BR>DC hip-hop is on the rise...<P>"High grade when I create beats/if I don't get signed/I'ma be the most dope bum that ever walked the streets" - <BR>Aychell (HL, of Khemystery)<P>"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's probably a tool of the conspiracy" - unknown