Poet’s Bio: Otis Sprow grew up in Baltimore attending public schools. After graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, He went on to attend Cornell University where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Later, he received an MBA Degree from George Washington University.
He then started his career as an officer in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the staff of Admiral Rickover. In this position, he had design approval authority over significant portions of new nuclear submarines and surface ships.
He then changed careers and went to work for the Ford Motor Company (Detroit) until retiring. Along the way, he had various jobs in Engineering, Product Planning, Program Management and Manufacturing.
He also became involved in creative efforts, primarily photography. His black and white photographs were shown in galleries around the country and included in some museum collections. Along the way, he was part of the Artist-In-Residence Program at the Smithsonian Institution.
Deliah
Lawrence: Do you have any reflections about poetry in life?
Otis Sprow: About 10 years ago, I began seriously writing poetry which had always been an interest. During this time, I became the 24/7 caregiver to my mother who had become incapacitated and came to live with me until she passed away in 2019.
Whenever time permitted during that period, I continued to write my poems. The result is a recently published book (600 pages and nearly 300 poems), organized in 12 chapters representing a wide range of subjects. But regardless of the subject, the effort is always made to be a “craftsman of language” and have you intensely “feel something” from the reading experience.
DL: In
celebration of National Poetry Month, can you share with us one of your poems?
OS: I’d be happy to. Here you go:
Could it
Be?
Could it be?
A little sound
inside thee
coarsely whispers—
—
“Humanity!”
Could it
be,
there is
value
in praise
and primal
kindness?
Distributed
while under the sun,
alongside
those who can no longer
accept
their lot.
No longer believe
in peonage,
as a
manner of final payment.
No longer accept,
without
foreseeable compensation,
undiminished
levels of indebtedness.
And no
longer play
with
loaded dice,
simply tossed
in their way.
Tell me,
why is it convincing
speech cannot be heard
until there
is condensing gloom?
When there
is rain,
that is
exactly the right time
to begin the
search for rainbows.
That would
be the right time
to peer through
holes in fences
erected to
spirit down
those
deemed unworthy.
Unseal all
eyes,
that all
may see.
And shake
the past,
to
re-awaken it,
so that
all may hear
of its
tales,
at last.
It is not
that the cost of Dream A
must be
paid
from the
pocket of Dream B.
From this majestic
point of being,
we all can
see.
At last.
Cry to the
“power majority” from the minority, who are under pressure.
DL: Where can folks learn more
about you and your poetry?
OS: They can find out more here:
Website: http://www.otisbook.com
YouTube Video: Tribute Poem (Gordon, the Slave)
DL: It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy reading your poetry.
OS: Thanks for the opportunity to
be featured on your blog!
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