Art Np2

Phylicia Barnes, the seventeen year old young woman who disappeared from Baltimore in December 2010,  still influences me from the grave.  When her body was found naked on April 20, 2010 in the Susquehanna River, I didn't and still don't have the words to express my grief.  I turned to poetry to try and find some metaphor to deal with this kind of horror  Her killer/killers have not been found.  Anyone who could kill that beautiful young woman is very dangerous.  If someone knows something, please tell it before someone else is killed. I'm bringing this back because I don't think I'm exposed to enough poetry.  I like reading through books of poetry to find poems to put on this blog.  Enjoy. Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face by  Jack Prelutsky Be glad your nose is on your face, not pasted on some other place, for if it were where it is not, you might dislike your nose a lot. Imagine if your precious nose were sandwiched in between yo...

There has been no public news about the search for the murderer(s) of Phylicia Barnes.  Phylicia Barnes is the teenager who came to Baltimore to visit her sister last Christmas and went missing.  Her body was found naked in the Susquehanna river around Conowingo Dam in April 2011.  Somebody knows what happened to her.  Those of you who know something about this should think about what could happen as a result of your silence.  Someone else could be killed.  Why would you want to be a part of something so depraved and vile?   If you know something please contact the police.  Do it anonymously if you have to. Whoever did this evil deed needs to be locked up for the protection of the public.  You have to know this girl did not deserve this.  Neither does her family and friends.  Just imagine if she were your baby, sister, niece, friend. As you know, my way of dealing with the black-hearted horror of this beautiful y...

You know how someone can read a certain person's writing and then see the world differently?  That's what Chris Albani's writing does for me. Abani's poetry is more than words; it's art, truth, and healing. My view of reality becomes more whole.  It's very difficult finding his works of poetry in the library so I will post what I can. When I have some extra money I"ll be able to buy some more of his work. For now I am posting what I can find and like online and I have one of his books coming from another library (hopefully)! Chris Abani was born in Nigeria in 1966 and imprisoned thrice by the Nigerian government for the writing of his the novel Masters Of The Board and participating in theatre groups.  What happened to him makes me so grateful for the freedom I have.  Albani is a big good-looking man, but more importantly he writes beautiful poetry and wonderful prose for everyone!  I'm not sure what books these poems are from, but I will find out...

As you know ever since Phylicia Barnes's body was found,   http://iwannalearntowrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/tales-from-under-middle-aged-colored.html   I have been using poetry to get me through the horror of realizing and accepting the violence that sometimes happens to beautiful young women by the hands and will of other humans.  This is what has been happening in the search for her murderer or murderers: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2011/05/phylicia_barnes_death_rule_hom.html http://trapjuice.com/2011/07/16/r-i-p-phylicia-barnes-could-her-death-have-been-linked-to-child-pornography/ Rally for Phylicia Barnes in Baltimore As I said, I was inspired by this beautiful young woman to read more poetry.  As Alice Walker's short stories have always caused me to brood and focus in wonder, I decided to read more of her poetry and the poems had the same exact affect.  Surprisingly it is not that easy to find most of her poetry o...

Kay Ryan The other day I picked up a book innocently sitting on the shelf in the New Books section of the library. The book was The Best Of It, New and Selected Poems by Kay Ryan.  Ryan was the U.S. Poet Laureate 2008-2010, but what I thought is a Poet Laureate?  From the Library of Congress website I learned that the Poet Laureate is appointed by the Librarian Of Congress to raise the awareness of and educate the American public about the joys of poetry.  The Laureate, who serves from October to May, is paid a $37,000 stipend and given time to work on personal projects.  Poetry critics and the current Laureate help the Librarian select the next Laureate.  To learn more go to: http://www.loc.gov/poetry/about_laureate.html Now, let's get back to Kay Ryan.  I am not a sophisticated poetry reader.  Most of the poetry I have read has been since Phylicia Barnes's body was found.   http://iwannalearntowrite.blogspot.com/search?...

 It is difficult to describe the darkness that creeped into my mind and body after this lovely young girl/woman was found dead and naked not far from where I live.  I could not block the horror of what happened to her or my feelings of powerlessness. Phylicia Barnes was sixteen years old, about to turn seventeen.  Girls at that age are energetic and intelligent, emotional and intutitive, idealistic and stubborn, irritable, sometimes surly, yet they are much more thoughtful than they are given credit for.  Many of them continually question the world around them, but nevertheless want to fit into it, and they like to giggle.  Teenaged girls have a kind of  loveliness to them; a sweet and fresh quality.  This poem by Gil Scott-Heron says it much better than I can: A VERY PRECIOUS TIME Was there a touch of spring? Did she have a pink dress on? And when she smiled, her shyest smile Could you almost touch the warmth? And w...

 Posting poetry is my response to the murder of Phylicia Barnes.  Phylicia disappeared a few days after Christmas last year from a neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore.  Her body was found April 21, 2011 in Port Deposit, MD, where it washed up from the Susquehannna River.   I cannot put into words the horror I feel.  I did not know her, but she must have a beautiful spirit because she has inspired me to read more poetry than I ever have in my life. http://www.theroot.com/buzz/funeral-services-held-phylicia-barnes

I am supposed to be writing something, but I have had to get up at 4am lately, and my brain is not working, so I'm posting poetry because these days it's what keeps me going. Also,  a girl's body was found in the Susequehanna River at the Conowingo Dam.  Sixteen year old Phylicia Barnes was abducted from Northwest Baltimore while visiting her aunt last Christmas and when her body was found last week it was naked and unrecognizable.  She was identified by a rose tatoo on her ankle and dental records.  And I keep thinking about what the punishment should be for her killer or killers, but there doesn't seem to be anything ugly or harsh enough to make up for this crime, so I keep reading poetry. I don't think something this horrible is supposed to be processed.  What part of the psyche does  senseless murder fit into?