National Poetry Month's Feature: Poet Gilbert H. Richards

Poet’s Bio:  A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Gilbert H. Richards is a former high school English teacher of 22 years, and author of Herd of Tusks, a collection of free verse.  He earned a B.A. in English and a Masters in Special Education from Coppin State University.  He currently resides in the city.

Gilbert enjoys reading and discussing books on topical issues, literature, and arts that reflect and affect the African-American society and Diaspora. Currently, he is completing a volume of memoirs and collecting poems for his second volume of verse. 

His favorite writers are James Baldwin, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, Dick Gregory, and Ta-Nihesi Coates. His favorite poets are Langston Hughes, William Carlos Williams, Lucille Clifton, Amy Lowell, and Billy Collins.

DL: What are some of your reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic?

GHR: No one will forget this “RONA” experience. This is an unsettling, ominous period, especially with the death toll mounting.  We don’t know when this plague will level out (and it will.)  However, we will never look at flu season, health organizations or the government the same.

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

GHR: Sure, I would like to share these two poems:

EVER WISHES/ AFTER THOUGHTS

Part 1

We gambled, suffered and lost.

Strands of darkness flickered, blackness
Lingered. A long while—
Until loitering took residence.

Crevices crept into doubts, and doubts

Flit to dares. Released, rambling, freed—
We wrangled with osmosis. We reached
For blossoms, tried to catch petals,
But could not manage. We lost the landscape.

Vines invaded our premises.

Entwined, we disagreed; often yelled obscenities
And spewed miscues. We gift-wrapped righteous rifts;
Extolled the differences! We conned ourselves,
We believed our own lies. Laughing now, we realized

The kiss of mirages were realms of want.

We tried to regroup—to level fields and prune hedges,
But loose dirt vomited weeds and crabgrass.
Our roses wilted.

Though stars faded, and suns dodged days,

We swore anyway—mint-leaves of happily-ever afters.
And ended up here –Hung in humility and naked honesty.

Part 2

I could have loved you—draped my limbs around you
And burrowed in your bosom. I could have
--the way you wanted.
And you could have—the way I needed.
Saddled my lap, and massaged my limbs
--til I grinned.

But we agreed to be selfish, we could

Not perfect the knot. We realized
How wish-boned wings could be clipped
By piercing showers. Still I loved
Every storm, every tear, every wear and tear.

I am sorry –and hope you understand,

No one’s to blame; we shouldered blunders.
Our mint-scented ever-afters trickled
to tea leaves. We tried, we moved
On, we grew.

Let us not wed regret, but weld setting suns—

To our beginning. Let us greet the horizon
With new understanding. We find pleasure
In knowing. We could have been better
--if we knew how.  

LITTLE BLACK GIRLS

wondrous innocence

braids & ponytails double-dutching

twisting pavements bouncing playgrounds

bright shiny faces tease and flirt

strutting sass chanting names with

rhymes for beads & bowrettes

excited leaps to a joyous chorus

whips of fire spree of majesty

jewels of wazuri frolic

queens of fancy-yet-crowned

DL: Where can folks learn more about you and your poetry?

GHR: They can contact me at Ojibaraka@aol.com and find out more about my work here:

Website: http://authorgilberthrichards.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/gilbert.richards.7

Book buy link: http://outskirtspress.com/herdoftusks

DL: It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy your poetry.

GHR: Thanks, I appreciate the opportunity to share my work!