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National Poetry Month's Feature: Poet Cherrie Amour


Poet’s Bio: By day, award-winning poet Cherrie Amour is a 16-year veteran in public relations. By night, Cherrie’s candid, narrative style of poetic verse inspires diverse audiences as she flows about life and love. Amour also serves as producer/ host of the Words, Wine & Wings series in Baltimore, a show that features up to five emerging and established poets in the DMV region along with an open mic. 

 Amour’s spoken word is recorded on two CD projects “ilovemesomewords” and “Love’s Journey”. Her written poems are included in her Free to Be Me, Poems on Love, Life and Relationships poetry book. Her poems have been featured in the Paterson Literary Review, Understorey magazine, Poet's Ink, Maryland in Poetry (Maryland Writers Assoc. 2020 Poetry Compilation) and the upcoming Zora’s Den writing group anthology. Learn more at cherrieamour.com

DL: What are some of your reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic?
CA: COVID-19 pandemic has hit me in the jugular —literally. I know at least one individual who has died from the virus, and my father died on April 5. Though my father did not die from the virus, he is in another country, whose airports are closed, so neither me nor my siblings can attend his funeral. Fortunately, my father has immediate family close by. What a scary time for the world. Just a short time into living with this pandemic and the fragility of the world is exposed for all of us to see. I wish everyone the best, stay safe, be mindful of your health and if you pray, offer up a prayer for all living with COVID-19, those in the health care field and those who are most vulnerable to this pandemic. Love to all.

DL: In celebration of National Poetry Month (April), can you share with us a few of your poems?
CA: Sure, here are two poems:

COVID-19
April 5, during COVID-19
My father passed away
And this day became a tribute
To his life and his death.

He died the same week with other great men
Ellis Marsalis, Bill Withers, David Driskell
My homage to them
Became my homage to him.

April 5, Palm Sunday
The final chapter of Jesus’ life on Earth
A time of victory
And a celebration of peace.

I don’t feel peace
I feel useless
I can’t fly to see him
I can’t be with him.

April 5, COVID19
The uninvited guest
Has closed airports and countries
And left us in isolation.
This unaccustomed silence of isolation
Feels like the world is aware
And on pause
To pay reverence to my father

April 5, Online
I am overwhelmed by social media posts
That offer prayers and sympathy
For my father, whom very few knew.

The posts suggest
They know he was special
Even if he wasn’t always perfect
But that he loved me and my siblings, the best that he could.

I’m drippin’ melanin
Wherever I go
In the winter, I’m brown sugar and caramel
In the summer, cocoa

This melanin
Makes me darker than most
Like a little bit of milk
In coffee that’s a dark roast.

Proud of the skin I’m in
Love being brown
Love being ethnic
I wear it like a crown.

Don’t even try to
Minimize my glow
I’m leaving my melanin
Wherever I go.

Step back mere mortals
I have arrived
Fall to your knees
I’m the queen of the hive.

Feeling myself
And it feels so good
Don’t question my stature
I wish you would.

I’m drippin’ melanin
Wherever I stand
I’m proud of the skin I’m in
I’m feelin’ grand.

DL: Where can folks learn more about you and your poetry?
CA: They can find out more about me and my work here:
Website: https://www.cherrieamour.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherrie.Amour/
Book buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Be-Me-Poems-Relationships/dp/0615878172/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385499072&sr=1-1&keywords=cherrie+amour

DL: It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy your poetry.
CA: Thanks for the opportunity to showcase my work! 




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