April is National Poetry Month.
I considered myself a poet once upon a time. That is until I was introduced to the world of Poets in Brooklyn NY. There was a poetry revelation going on within the African American community, these kids were 'crunchy granola's. The first Black people I've ever meet that were vegetarians and politically radical. I was introduced to this new world through my then boyfriend, now husband who is a drummer. In those days we were students at Purchase College. I was a Lit major and he was a Jazz major. He was always on the look out for gigs, it didn't matter what it was as long as he could play his drums he was a happy man. During this unknown revolution he was provided the opportunity to tour in Europe with a group named the Vibe Khameleons which featured the raw talent of anti pop musicians and poets. It was through him that I was truly introduced to poetry. Not just to poetry you read in school but true black poets. I learned about Sonya Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni, listened to The Last Poets and visited the famed Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
This April I will feature some of the great poems and poets from this revolution I hope you enjoy it.
Dreams
by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16075#sthash.Qhgp3eIV.dpuf
