“Where am I from? I am from the blood of fire river where the strike of friction against rock of flint smokes tongues of resistance, lead burning brains and bodies of the resilient beautiful.”
– Semaj Brown
The Load Bearer
Where am I to place all the merciless murders of the unarmed? In 12 inches, she will carry them. As there are lavender angels who fashion dolls to look as I look, to be the load bearer.
The artist said, “We will call her Semaj.” Thank you Rosie Ray-Henderson for this soft mirror, reflection of styled upholstery, reading fire wind. Welcoming her is affirming as she is extant, a creation from where the sea levitates as sky, from where a stone speaks slowly of time, from where pregnant is the laugh with sorrow, with consternation, and careful joy, from where 2,000 years before, I drank waves from Kilimanjaro Falls, cascading and carving prophecy inside of me.
Today, I write her name in the Book of Blood River Twisted Carcass: Breonna Taylor lives in this land of no wings.
Featured Gallery
Prose
Lectures/Essays
From the Poet Laureates’ Bookshelf
Semaj Brown reads selected Literary works from Past and Present
Academic Bridge
“The ancestors speak! You are our gift in regenerating philosophies and systems that embrace our wholeness! Blessings!” | Professor Otrude Moyo, Ph.D. • Director of Department of Social Work, Indiana University -South Bend