St. Louis Wedding and Portraiture Photography - Pinxit

Does Cam just look like a teen ager in this shot? Its not the best picture I ever took but man, all I see hwen I look at that is her thirteen year old self trying to talk me into God Knows who’s concert tickets, and trying to figure out how to get her hair to stand up with out killing the ozone. Welcome back 1985. Sheesh…
This is National Poetry month, and as a poet I feel I must acknowledge my favorite poets of all time. *their names link to either an extra poem cause I didn’t want to post a zillon poems here or their website, if they have one.

First Pablo Neruda.
Why you ask? okay I shall tell you…
When Jerry and I were very young in our relationship but solid enough that there was signs of forever, on Sunday mornings just after the sun would rise he would lay a volume of Nerudas work near my head and read them to me in spanish. Quietly in the midst of the morning we would lie together and I would let the sound of him wrap around me and me around him.
It always felt like benediction.
Eventually we would find our way to the Jewel Box for breakfast of fruit and bagels and we would read the bible and what ever else we wanted to share with each other. Those Sundays helped me understand faith and God as much if not more so than my time in church.
excuse me while I go find a glass of water, and wish for a bagel…
Okay I’m back.
The rest of my poetry choices are in no particular order.

Suheir Hammad Palestinian poet -
she is easily one of the most powerful writers I have ever heard. Her works tend to stain my memory. She is truly awesome. I couldn’t decide whether to link to this poem or this one..

RIVES - Rives. is. Easily. the poet who makes me think the most often. I like to hear him just talk as much as read and or perform,

Anis Mojgani - This young man leaves me pressing rewind and replaying his work over and over and over. I am very picky about my poets, and poems I all but worship at words and beleive in the art of poetry, this guys helps me believe in it still.

Amir Sulaiman - powerful, I met him in the very begining of my love affair with poetry - he came to St. Louis for a St. Louis vs. Atlanta poetry slam, he was the reason I voted for the Atlanta team.

Shihan - I used the clip below cause its such a nice insight into him as a person not just a poet.
Rachel Mckibbins - I’ve mentioned her here a bunch of times she recently had a baby around the same time I did - She reminds me that the success in parenting is in the actual parenting. Congrats again Rachel, your childeren are lucky to have you.

and my long long time favorite Sonia Sanchez - she came to Legacy when it was Heritage books, and we held poetry readings and I came and flipped chairs to earn the cover charge. She sat with us for a long time - she was very sweet and grandmotherly. Touched our faces, told us what she thought. I remember all manner of good things about this little little lady - who packs such a big big spirit.

honorable mention cause this post is getting long- Bassey ikpi, Dasha Kelly, Roger Bonair, Mike McGee,Taylor Mail and this poem is one of my favorites and while I can not call Jason one of my favorties if only because I’ve not heard enough of his work but I do love this piece.

Shake the dust…