Poetry

October 2020 – Kent State University Wick Poetry Center and The Center for Earth Ethics, New York, New York with Collaboration from Columbia University Earth Stanzas Project presents, Vote the Earth | Semaj Brown, Flint Michigan’s First Poet Laureate was invited from a select listing of National poets to create a video based on the famous poem Where Am I From by George Ellen Lyon. Semaj’s poem connects Earth ecology, environmental and social injustices. Developed to launch at end of October in celebration of Earth Day 50th anniversary.

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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

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Warning Signs hovered like low hanging clouds: No Blooming Allowed; Blossoms Will be Prosecuted These brave plants grew just for me Grew in spite of a society that favored a monochromatic landscape

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I imitate no one I am the sole one I am unique If you can’t see me Then, you can’t see Glasses are what you need

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The axis of our planet straightens. Untruths that pollute bow, bow, bow down and disintegrate into the debris of a sneeze. Ahchew! The atmosphere is activated. The moon, my ride and die, pulls water strings uuupppp, the sea high-fives in wave gesture as hate evaporates. Gravity genuflects. There is a hierarchical reset.

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Did you forget how you found me? I was flatter than a single dimension my palate was an old wall from an old house layered with stories of color

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This chocolate chip was shoplifted from Liberia was mass produced in the flavor of chattel was corrupted by sucrose and was seduced by Bettye Crocker

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I am continually amazed by my wife, Semaj’s journey as a Broadside Lotus Press Poet, literary artist, educator, performer, inspirational story teller, and curriculum community builder. Her excursion into the world of words began when she was a child; her mother, who you will meet in this book as The Ultraviolet Light of Bessie L. James supplied young Semaj a daily diet of Legacy Poets from Dudley Randall’s Broadside Lotus Press.

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“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

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