January 8: Poet of the Week, Danez Smith, "little prayer"

For Christmas, I received Danez Smith's collection of poems Don't Call Us Dead.  I've been sort of obsessed with it these last few weeks.  Reading parts of it in the morning for breakfast, with my chicken sandwich at lunch, before brushing my teeth at night.  It's absorbing and beautiful and frightening--sort of like living in Trump America right now.  Lots of ugliness, bigotry and hatred, but also pockets of love and tolerance and resistance.

Danez Smith is the Poet of the Week.

Saint Marty is thankful for his voice and healing words.

little prayer

by:  Danez Smith

let ruin end here

let him find honey
where there was once a slaughter

let him enter the lions' cage
& find a field of lilacs

let this be the healing
& if not   let it be

May 28: Maya Angelou

Today, poet Maya Angelou died.

My wife and I had the privilege of seeing Ms. Angelou speak two times.  She was an amazing person, and the world will be a slightly less beautiful place without her.

I will say no more.  I'm going to let Maya Angelou speak for herself.

Saint Marty's going to say a little prayer for her this evening.  A prayer of thanks.