I know now I put you through a lot of misery. You spent your wedding day with a bandage on your head ‘cause Harpo laid your head open. You must be very angry ‘cause I didn’t punish him, just told him don’t do that.
Celie, every lick I hit you, I know now I suffer twice. Now I rot in my own jail that I make from my weakness. Shug say ‘before, ‘you can’t make up your mind what you want.’ This is very true; I couldn’t make up my mind before, who I want, You, Shug or Nettie. Now I know t’was you and your sweet soul that give me strength to live.
I said to you a man try to be nice to you, you fly in his face. I was wrong but I say things like this ‘cause I say words which make it harder on myself. I write this letter to say I is sorry, to ‘give it to you straight, just like it come to me’.
When you left you said ‘until you do right by me, everything you touch will crumble.’ This curse at that time was funny to me, I laughed. I say, you black, you pore, you ugly, you nothing at all. ‘Tween you and me I know now your curse was true everything I even dream of has failed. I was fretting when you cursed me, when you finally fought back and told me that you would leave me. I tried to hide this fret by dishonouring you. I said t’was ‘cause I probably didn’t whup your ass enough. But this I am ‘shamed of.
I made your life hell, I realised when you went. I realised all strong women who fight back take you with them, that you too will become one of them. You too will make something of youself. Celie, I believe you will achieve. You a very strong woman
You were put through your Pa’s woes, your brothers and sisters woes and me and my children’s woes. You a blessed woman of God.
I loves you.
Mr _________.
