 (“In a Season of Blood & Poetry” art by Aberjhani for Bright Skylark LitProds ©2021) With April 2021 being the 25th anniversary of National Poetry Month, it is also the perfect time to share a shortened re-post of the article ‘Tis the Season for the Magic of Poetry Part 2: Angels and Poets. It was first published in 2014 as part of a series for my AXS National African-American Cultural Arts column. When considering the recent shooting deaths of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 20-year-old Daunte Wright, as well as mass shooting in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Atlanta, Georgia, poetry might seem to lack any real kind of serious significance in 2021. But as pointed out in the original first part of this series: One important reason poetry matters is because it often helps to expand humanity’s capacity for putting brutal and sublime experiences alike into usable, meaningful, contexts. A Significant Utilitarian Role The publication of an anthology such as Black Gold (compiled and edited by the late Ja A. Jahannes) is always an important event for a number of reasons. For one, it contributes to the preservation of a powerful literary tradition which has served to document the diverse poetic voices of different eras. Another is because it helps secure a niche market known to make traditional publishers somewhat nervous from a business perspective when it comes to investing in that same market. However, this being the digitalized information age, new traditions have formed in which established poetry organizations such as the Academy of American Poets will email subscribers poems on a daily basis.  In addition, online publications like Poetry Life and Times, edited by Robin Ouzman Hislop, publish contemporary poets on a fairly regular weekly to biweekly basis. Moreover, its sister digital venue Poetry Lifetimes, edited by Sara Russell, delivers poetry titles and headlines on a daily basis via the popular Paper.li content aggregation platform. Each of these, and others like them, demonstrates the significant cultural and utilitarian role that poetry continues to play in the lives of numerous individuals, organizations, and communities. Angels and Poets The book The River of Winged Dreams has gained some popularity since its publication in 2010 partly because more than half a dozen of the poems take their themes, and sometimes titles, from different holidays and other special occasions. The following, however, is presented at this time for its evocation of grace and compassion, two of humanity’s better qualities which even those who are fairly humbug on the holidays can appreciate when extended to them: The Poet-Angels Who Came to Dinner (from The River of Winged Dreams) 1. Neither had been invited but both were welcomed. They spoke through wordless intuition, cool nods of “Peace-Be-Still,” and, “As-Goes-Love-So-Goes-Life.” Their quiet burned my brain with inklings of wonders to come––as I set my table with what I had: half of a cheese sandwich left over from a lucky day. 2. From the eyes of one, my meager offering drew liquid letters and symbols that splashed into goblets until they overflowed with flavors of wine. The second stranger laughed. As he howled, their sorrow and their joy set my table anew—laid it heavy with glazed yams, marinated dreams, and aromatic breads. 3. Then their wings spread and revealed feathers painted with the names and words of poets known and unknown. Echoes of vows and prayers exploded blinding songs of light. By the time I could see again, my guests had gone. I stared at the bountiful table they left, too stuffed with awe, to feast on the generosity of their grace. 4. A knock at the door made me think they’d returned. It was instead an old grandfather, homeless, with three children whose parents had been lost to war and disregard. They had not been invited but all were welcomed. I nodded through tears of wordless intuition: “Peace-Be-Still,” and, “As-Goes-Love-So-Goes-Life.” Also Check Out for National Poetry Month 2021: ‘Talks Between My Pen & Muse’ An Inspired Literary Debut from Poet Aurie Cole Where to Find Poetry Fine Art Poster Aberjhani |
AberjhaniContemporary award-winning author of classically-styled works in history, poetry, creative nonfiction, speculative fiction, and journalism. 
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