BlAcKpOeMoLoGuE

About the Book

A Note from the Poet/Playwright: (BLACK) an adj. of the darkest color; without light; dark, evil, somber, dishonorable. Wow! I wanted to challenge these objectionable definitions, and show that out of DARKNESS comes: LIGHT, LOVE, GROWTH, BEAUTY and HEALING, too. (POEM) an imaginative composition in rhythmic or free verse lines is the genre of this choreopoem, that tells a TALL TALE, with a HINT of some TRUTH & REALNESS. (OLOGY) is an indication, or root word, a noun that defines various kinds of speech, writings, or a collection of writings, (e.g., eulogy or trilogy). In words of this type, the “-ology,” element is derived from the Greek noun λόγος – logos: speech, debate, narrative, account, and story, etc., etc.,). The suffix has the sense of a certain kind of speaking, writing, and/or storytelling. (MONOLOGUE) a dramatic composition with only one speaker; a long speech by one person. But BLACKPOEMOLOGUE includes eleven speakers. I am taking a few artistic licenses/liberties with this choreopoem.

About the Author

Blackpoemologue is still a work-in-progress since its first publication in 2001. It has taken me twenty-plus years to get it down on paper, never mind presenting it to the entire world. Now twenty years later, I am reintroducing this performance piece in an attempt to tell a story of struggle, victory and courage. Twenty years later, I am no longer sitting comfortably in front of a computer, within the four walls of my small Harlem apartment and only day dreaming. Now, I am stepping out on faith that I will be able to widen my audience, and share this labor of love, that truthfully has taken me over forty years to bring out of its proverbial closet. In 2001, I thought that this choreopoem, which initially consisted of eighty-seven poems written between 1980 and 1999; and was presented in a play format was going to be my SWAN SONG. For you see, over the years, I have been diagnosed with three forms of Cancers since 1996. So here I am lugging out those old LPs and CDs; and re-reading, while listening to a lil’ Coltrane, Carol Sloane, Shirley Horn, Miles Davis, and of course Lady Day, along with Jill Scott, Remy Shand, and Ledisi, too. And, asking you to join me. Any enlightened folks, or millennials will be pleased to known that I also listen to H.E.R., Adele, and Harry Styles, just to name a few. So lay back, put your feet up, light some SAND & FOG aromatherapy candles, burn some SAGE incenses, and allow me to transport you back to a time of growth . . . (if you are one type), and a few revelations . . . (if you are the other type). FOR . . . I am a product of the CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, the BEATLES, the SURPEMES, the KOREAN WAR, the VIETNAM WAR, and the 1963 March on Washington, DC . . .