Ode to Toni Morrison* A Highland Park Poetry Review

 

As poets and writers, putting our work out into the public arena makes us vulnerable. It exposes us like a swim suit model. It makes us crazy.  We agonize over what people will think of us. We agonize over our choices.

We face potential criticism. We risk being judged. People can be unkind in their feedback. Not to mention, some folks simply fail to get where we are coming from. They miss the message. Critics would be surprised to learn that it's harder than it looks.

And let's face it: art is subjective. "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Which is why I was honored and humbled with today's review of my recent book by Highland Park Poetry.

Reviewer Barbara Eaton shares the following:

There is no dross in the poetry of Jennifer Brown Banks.  Direct, to-the-point, intelligent, and often witty, her poems speak to her experience and ours.  Her latest book, “Ode to toni morrison” (and collected poems...) covers the pandemic, the death of her mother, the deaths of Toni Morrison and the artist formerly known as Prince, the joys and fears of parenting, what she calls the “Daddy Deficit,” and many more of the trials and triumphs of life.

The title poem, “Ode to Toni Morrison,” expresses the poet’s wish to have met the Nobel Laureate “Perhaps in some/Quaint coffee shop,/ With an assortment of herbal teas/ And pricey brews,” the young poet “Full of awe and admiration,” “Hoping to emulate.”  But, alas, this meeting never took place, since Morrison passed away in 2019.  Her works, however, remain “Etched/ In our hearts.”

“Ain’t it Silly? Really!” is a clever little poem about the trivial reasons for family feuds:

“because they disagree,

Over ancient history.

Or money. 

Or sibling rivalry. 

Or hurtful words               

Uttered mistakenly."

My favorite poem in the collection is “Parenting is Like Baking a Cake.”  It is a conceit, an elaborate comparison of cake baking and parenting.  The conclusion is characteristically optimistic: you “hope/It rises.” 

I enjoyed the poet’s energy and optimism.  If you need a shot of energy and optimism, you need this book. 

===ABOUT THE REVIEWER: Barbara Eaton is a poet and semi-retired community college instructor.

To read the entire review or to order the book, visit Highland Park Poetry's site here:

http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org/reviewsthanks.html

 A special thanks to Highland Park Poetry and Barbara Eaton for their time, consideration, and constructive feedback.  

Image credit: quotation mark, Pixabay.com

Poetry Corner* Dr. Archan Mehta

 

Poem : What Is Creativity?

Creativity is something

I can’t figure out:

Creativity is both a

Mystery and a process:

I picked up a pen

And tried to create a poem,

But I really felt stumped.

My fingers would not

Move at all. Truth be told,

I think I suffered from “writer’s block.”

But suddenly, when I ventured outside

For a stroll, well, the poem

Wrote itself: my pen flowed

With effortless ease. Thus,

Creating a poem is not a

Question of hard work or even

Mankind’s indomitable will.

After all, when you are in the mood,

Creativity starts to flow with the

Power of a Niagra Falls.

When the muse decides

To visit you, finally, you need

To fill your vessel with rhythm and music.

Creativity annihilates your ego and

You are left alone: there is

Something in here and out there,

Which is unfathomable like an

Unexplored ocean pulsating

With turbulent waters but fills

You like a balloon. And you

Are filled with a sense of awe

And wonder in your eyes, the

Enchantment of an eternal sunrise.

And then, creativity, all of a sudden,

Dies quietly like friends and relatives

Mourning silently at a funeral.

BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience

Poetry Corner* Dr. Archan Mehta

Poem : Power of Memory

Something we love

Lives after us:

A favorite song,

A cherished friend,

A sweet and cute baby,

Blessed with cherubic cheeks.

We pursue our passion

But only have one life to live.

Something we love

Lives after us:

A stolen kiss,

Bar-hopping and gate-crashing

Parties when we were young

And restless and carefree.

Memories we share will

Return to haunt us like

A phantom lurking 

Silently in the shadows.

Memory is like an old

Shirt we wear, time and again,

Long after we pass on.

And this is our new dawn:

For this body is only

Our temporary abode.

But people who are

Close to us

Will remember us

Long after we are gone beyond

The setting of the sun.

BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Image credit: Pixabay.com

Poetry Corner* By Dr. Archan Mehta

 A Poet’s Fate?

I write this song

For the talented poet

Who tragically died,

Penniless, in an open gutter.

Even so,

May this poet’s tribe increase

And find solace

In the salty breeze.

May such poets find patrons,

Who support the arts,

Like this poet,

For a start.

And may such artists

Never feel alone:

Instead, may poets find

Shelter in support groups

Meant for such endangered 

And exotic species:

And may such poets

Lose their fear

Of failure, over time,

Why, their acts of

Creation feel like mine.

And may such poets

Find a permanent abode

In the act of creation itself,

Without having to worry

About how to sell

To the highest bidder

In an auction house:

After all, this is a

Fate worse than hell!

Therefore, talented poet,

Reign supreme,

For I imagine you

Up among the clouds:

Poet, you don’t need

To be loud to be heard:

We, who are sensitive,

To your needs, hear

You, loud and clear,

Poet, dear.

POET'S BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Image credits: Pixabay.com

The Poetry Corner* By Dr. Archan Mehta

Happy September!

Please join me in welcoming our new monthly poetry contributor. Dr. Archan is a very diverse, dynamic poet who has written on an array of timely topics over the years, for various publications. Here he shares his thoughts on love and its many lessons.

Enjoy! 

Drifting Apart?

Baby:

I’m not coming home

For you have lost the

Art of capturing my heart,

And I guess that

We have drifted apart.

Baby:

There was a time

When we walked,

Hand in hand,

On a stranded beach,

Close to oblivion.

Baby:

There were stars

In our eyes,

When we were young and foolish,

Way back then,

But we have drifted apart

And there is nothing 

Left between us:

Just the memories

Of yesterday

And no tomorrow

To look forward to.

Baby:

Do you remember?

It used to be

Just me and you

But our world conveniently

Forgot about us

And now we

Have drifted apart:

Fallen like old comrades

In a sinking ship

Headed for the bottomless pit

Of the ocean—

Like prisoners of war

Walking the plank

On a pirate’s ship

Destined for shark-infested waters.

Baby:

There is no rose

Beautiful enough

To mend our sorrows

Because we have drifted apart.

Baby:

We have fallen

Like angels dancing

On broken shards of glass:

How we have drifted apart,

Over the years.

Baby:

The days are near

When you and I

Will come close to tears.

Baby:

We have drifted apart

And there is no way

In the world

We’re going to ever

Make a brand, new start.

Baby:

You go your way

And I’ll go my way.

Baby:

We can no longer

Sit on a magic carpet

Made of dreams;

Nor sing songs

Longing for eternity

Because you and I,

Baby, were never

Meant to be, don’t you see?

Baby:

Maybe it is time

For us to search

For another country,

For we have drifted apart.

POET'S BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Image credits: Pixabay.com

On the Arts Scene This Summer

 

Greetings, readers!

After a brief break, I'm happy to have you here again. For your reading pleasure and informational purposes, I'd like to share a few things of interest on the arts scene this summer.

MY NEW BOOK HAS BEEN RELEASED

I'm proud to publish this timely title which provides an array of tips, tools, and resources to sell your poetry in 2022. It also has expert tips from other successful poets including: Jennifer Dotson, Noelle Sterne, Poet Laureate Henry Jones, and former Chicago cop, Gail Merriwether.

Get your copy today at Amazon.

HIGHLAND PARK POETRY IS SEEKING POETRY REVIEWERS

According to their website: "Seeking poets with books to review (prefer publication within 16 months) as well as poets interested in writing reviews. Highland Park Poetry is now accepting reviews of poetry books for publication on our website and Facebook. For information, contact jennifer@highlandparkpoetry.org." Learn more here:

http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org/

TWO DROPS OF INK SEEKS EDITOR FOR WEBSITE

CALL FOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Two Drops of Ink

August 13, 2022

An editor-in-chief is sought for the online literary blog, Two Drops of Ink. https://twodropsofink.com/

Description from the website:

· For the reader and writer, we publish short stories, poetry, essays, literary criticism, book reviews, and biographical profiles of authors, interviews, letters, and academic essays or treatise.

· For the writer, we strive to publish thoughtful and unique conversations about grammar, writing, prose styles, poetry, literary genres, writing advice, and the publishing industry; we post current news and information about the publishing industry and literary agents, regularly. We also promote other sites that we feel enhance the education of writers.

· We believe in the power of collaboration. We look forward to publishing works from aspiring writers who are looking for exposure, and seasoned writers and authors looking to expand their audience. We know that those writers who submit their works for publication to our site, and make the cut, will enter into a win-win relationship with Two Drops of Ink. Those authors will receive the benefit of great exposure from a credible site, and we will enjoy the benefit of sharing their audience as well.

· In January of 2016, 2017, and 2018 we were honored to be added to the list of top 100 blogs for writers.

· In January of 2017 and 2018, we were recognized and awarded for being in the top 50 writers blogs. 

This is a labor of love. 

It is an opportunity to help other writers, publish your own work, gain a credit, and promote your services.

Qualifications:

1. Experience as editor/writer.

2. Familiarity with WordPress.

3. Ability to evaluate submissions for appropriate content for guest blogs.

4. Review all content and posting new content every 6-8 days.

5. Attention to editorial details and editing of content as necessary.

6. Good interpersonal skills; contact with contributors primarily by email.

Please respond with your answers to the following questions to: writrnews@yahoo.com

1. Why do want to be the editor of Two Drops?

2. What is your past experience (if any) with Two Drops?

3. What is your editing experience otherwise?

4. What have you written and published?

5. What vision do you see for Two Drops going forward?

     Thank you for considering this creative, contributory opportunity.

JOIN CHICAGO WRITERS ASSOCIATION AT PRINTERS ROW IN SEPTEMBER

CWA will have an array of interesting authors and engaging titles for today's book lovers. Come out on September 10th/September 11th, discover some great reads and do some fun networking! Visit their website for details.

https://www.chicagowrites.org/news_and_events/entry/join-cwa-at-printers-row-lit-fest

CONGRATULATIONS TO HENRY JONES FOR HIS RECENT PUBLICATION 

IN WORD PEACE

Read his award-winning work here.

Highland Park in Our Hearts...

 

Poets United extends its deepest sympathy and collective prayers for the Highland Park Community and those devastated by the recent shootings amid the 4th of July parade celebration.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/06/us/highland-park-illinois-shooting-july-fourth-parade-wednesday/index.html

At times like these, words can not adequately express the pain, grief and senselessness of it all.

We can only hope that something positive emerges from this in days ahead (reform regarding gun control, screening and access; additional mental health resources; increased awareness and intervention for those who pose potential threats to the public).   

Let's all do our parts to increase peace.

Our children deserve a better world. 

Praying for a safe summer for all.