tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post3153913864953348821..comments2023-08-13T09:04:51.674-04:00Comments on poetry passion: Toi Derricottepkcypherthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837822081159657095noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-70302288485719982322011-03-23T18:37:58.280-04:002011-03-23T18:37:58.280-04:00Marie,
I wasn't done commenting but accidental...Marie,<br />I wasn't done commenting but accidentally posted my comment too soon. To continue....., it is apparent that the church has made no progress in leading society through a reevaluation of our approach to religion. The double standard and hypocrisy continues as does the flight of thinking people, or perhaps just frustrated people, from the status quo of the church. <br /><br />All of her poems do not hit and crash, some that I have read are uplifting. I will post an example shortly. BUT, I went to her poetry reading last night and was profoundly moved by her readings from "he Black Notebooks, An Interior Journey" I bought this book and expect to be profoundly changed in reading it. She also read excerpts from a new book that she hopes to have released in Jan. 2012. <br /><br />WOW. I have never been exposed to an author who is so willing to pull off her own scabs and examine reality in order to make progress in understanding prejudice. Yes, she exposes black on black prejudice, but it is obvious where the roots of that bigotry lie. This was only the second time she read publicly from the new book she is working on, and I could see the toll it was taking on her psyche to address the brutality of her father's abuse and the venomous childhood she suffered as a fair skinned black child. Her words certainly left an impression on me. I felt she was extremely brave and was thankful for the chance to tell her that. So, I think her purpose, or what drives her, is serious, important, and life changing, for those who will listen. And to top it off, she has such a kind and welcoming spirit. I won’t forget Toi Derricotte.<br />Pampkcypherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12837822081159657095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-55600705132157661182011-03-23T16:49:00.556-04:002011-03-23T16:49:00.556-04:00Marie,
Thank you for commenting on the complexity ...Marie,<br />Thank you for commenting on the complexity of these poems. I appreciate your thoughts,as I am new to examining a poem and I find you insight very thought provoking. Spkcypherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12837822081159657095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-79431496009493375522011-03-23T16:43:51.087-04:002011-03-23T16:43:51.087-04:00Jayne,
When you made your observation about the bl...Jayne,<br />When you made your observation about the black Madonna, I was reminded of the plump, jolly, black woman who is "God" in The Shack. Although I have to say I liked virtually nothing about that book, it too indicates our dissatisfaction with the church's depiction of God. Times, they are a changin' Good thing in my mind.<br />Pampkcypherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12837822081159657095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-84975476870590505902011-03-23T13:31:14.399-04:002011-03-23T13:31:14.399-04:00You could write a whole fucking dissertation about...You could write a whole fucking dissertation about "St Peter Claver" and "A Note on My Son's Face." The titles --and the language-- of the poems are deceptively simple. Peter Claver was a Jesuit who, unlike his colleagues, was outraged by slavery. And here Toi Derricotte depicts the facts that she is raised in a religion that had both accepted slavery, and freed slaves. That is structured with rules and regulations, like an army. And where she feels more like a stigmata than a member.<br /><br />And this feeling of stigmata continues in a yet harsher way in "A Note in My Son's Face." Mentally, you feel skinned. Birth and death have roles here --but guess who's the star. If racism is part of the topic, it is not only Black versus White, it is Black versus Black, prejudices within the same race. I think that's why this poem is so incredibly painful. This poem could be titled "Ode to Nihilism." Or No Exit.<br /><br />These are powerful, striking pieces. My question: Do all Derricote poems go like this -- hit, and then crash? I hope not.marie-johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05798554105777034828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-78648658107654008722011-03-21T20:32:20.449-04:002011-03-21T20:32:20.449-04:00Jayne, that is a great connection. I didn't t...Jayne, that is a great connection. I didn't think of that until you wrote about it here. Your students are lucky to have you in their lives.<br /><br />Thanks.<br />LorettaLorettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377342016603568153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1370181939017578161.post-80571172665806661162011-03-21T07:15:02.894-04:002011-03-21T07:15:02.894-04:00The first poem, "St. Peter Claver" remin...The first poem, "St. Peter Claver" reminds me of the Black Madonna in "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. I love that book because of the image of the Madonna and the power she has for the women in the book. I use that as a textbook in my "SMART" Class, the cohort class for Single Mothers Achieving Real Triumph. The love it. We start every day by reading a poem in this class.<br />JayneAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11541210089619500513noreply@blogger.com