[stylist] Question

[Lynda Lambert]

Robert, what is the correct email address for sending entries for the 
writing contest?
Lynda




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Black History Month - a Poem


> Lynda
>
> I enjoyed listening to the recorded reading of the poem. Boy, I too have
> hungered to learn and experience more in life, too. Even wanted or want to
> hop off the rails that my restrictive up-bringing had set me on. MMM, 
> maybe
> being blinded in a car accident at age 15 was a partial answer to that 
> song
> of yearning.
> (The lady had a wonderful story telling voice!)
>
> How do you wish to proceed with this exercise? Yes, you will present us 
> with
> more poems ---  Do we want to all talk by phone --- as in you could be our
> special monthly telephone gathering guest for February? The call could be
> the final "lesson."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda 
> Lambert
> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 8:22 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Black History Month - a Poem
>
> February is Black History Month. . .
>
> I was initially scheduled to do a lesson on the poetry of African 
> Americans
> in December. I have been struggling with health issues, and been 
> recovering
> from surgery since the beginning of January. Therefore, I thought I would
> bring you some poems of African American poets during February. I will 
> post
> some poems by different black poets from time to time during this month. I
> think you will really enjoy meeting some poets you may not be familiar 
> with,
> and maybe revisit some you already know.
>
>
>
> This morning I would like to introduce you to Gwendolyn Brooks. She was 
> born
> in Topeka, Kansas  (1917) but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She is 
> generally
> considered an Illinois poet. In her earlier years, prior to 1967,  she
> focused on depicting the characters of her race, to bring them to life on
> the page.  The local people of her neighborhood were the subject of her
> poems. She passed away on December 3, 2000.
>
>
>
> I had the privilege of attending a writing workshop for poetry one 
> afternoon
> at Slippery Rock University of PA. Gwendolyn was the poet in residence 
> that
> day and budding poets could read a poem for her and she would respond to 
> it.
> She was so gentle and kind, and encouraging to the young students who read
> for her.  When one of them said, with hesitation, that she had self
> published a chap book of her work.  Brooks looked at her and said, "You do
> not need to feel apologetic about publishing your own book. It is a book
> after all. You wrote a book. You have a published book. That is something 
> to
> be proud of."
>
>
>
> In 1967 Gwendolyn Brooks'  work changed after she took a workshop at Fisk
> University and met other black poets, such as Amiri Baraka. She had a "New
> Awakening" through this experience. I have always been aware that an
> encounter with one person can change your life forever, and this was
> certainly true for Brooks.
>
>
>
> Brooks' first book was published in 1945. She won a Pulitzer Prize; and 
> was
> Poet Laureate of Illinois. She succeeded Carl Sandburg in that position.
>
>
>
> I am posting a link so you can hear her read her poem, "A Song in the 
> Front
> Yard."  It is from 1963, one of the earlier poems where she describes what
> she sees and thinks about the people in her neighborhood.
>
>
>
> As you listen or read this poem you can think about the carefully chosen
> words. This poem is full of symbols - you might try to identify some of 
> them
> and then think about what she is conveying to the reader through the
> symbolism. Her symbols begin before you even start reading the poem..look 
> at
> the title of it. Begin there.
>
>
>
> Listen  to Brooks read her poem "A Song in the Front Yard" here:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWA6V3OaoR8
>
>
>
> You can read the text copy of this poem by opening up the attachment. 
> Enjoy!
>
>
>
>
>
> Lynda Lambert, BFA, MA, MFA
> 104 River Road
> Ellwood City, PA 16117
>
> 724 758 4979
>
> My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
> My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/llambert%40zoominternet.net
>