That
means that you and I can hold
Completely
different
Points
of view and both be right.
The
difference of our positions will show
Stars
in your window. I cannot even
imagine.
Your
sky may burn with light,
While
mine, at the same moment,
Spreads
beautiful to darkness.
Still,
we must choose how we separately corner
The
circling universe of our experience
Once
chosen, our cornering will determine
The
message of any star and darkness we
Encounter.
--Corners on the Curving Sky
Students Gina Morgan and Sheila Coope speak with Ms. Gwendolyn Brooks. October 1994
My introduction for Gwendolyn Brooks will be on a more
personal note. You see, I had the
privilege to both meet and share breakfast, with her on a beautiful morning in
the fall of October 1994.
Mrs. Gwendolyn Brooks was the featured poet, for our
annual literary event. And although
I was unable to attend the previous evening’s event, I was blessed, quite by
accident the next morning when a friend invited me for an early breakfast, and
there to my virtual amazement sat Ms. Brooks.
The proper introductions were made for about eleven
others, who also joined us, as we then sit down to share a beautiful morning
with our esteemed guest. Did I say
guest? Well please excuse my
manners, for from the first moment that we spoke it was as if I had known her
before. And after a few moments, I
soon realized that I did. She just
had to be my grandmother re-visited, because whenever she spoke, “It was as if
I heard the voice of my late granny—Momma Ann Lou!”
She spoke quite candidly about her experiences, family,
poetry and many other things. And I
even managed to overcome my shyness and chimed right in with her.
During the conversation, she mentioned that someone had told her “that
I too was a promising poet”. And
that she wondered “why I did not attend the evening’s poetry reading”.
I exclaimed, “I did not have transportation, nor do I know how to drive
a car.” She said, “Well I would
have drove you myself, but I didn’t have transportation either.”
And then she hugged me and smiled. I
did however, recite one of my poems to her that’s entitled, “I Wish”, and
she loved it.
So that’s my memory of Mrs. Gwendolyn Brooks. An early birthday present, from a friend who knew how much I loved Ms. Brooks’ poetry, and literary work. A friend who thought of me on that beautiful October morning. Thanks to Brenda Gail…you made my day, year and life!