Poet’s Bio: Gregory D. Yancey, Esq., a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, is an attorney, minister, author, and activist. Mr. Yancey has practiced law as an associate; inhouse counsel; and principal owner of The Fighting Lawyer, LLC. His practice has ventured into a wide foray of areas such as Civil Litigation; Criminal Defenses; Entertainment Law; Business Transactions; Family Law; and other practice areas.
He has authored Trials of the Christian Lawyer (spiritual devotion) and Law School Boot Camp (textbook). On May 1, 2022, he will launch a new company, Undaunted Sweat, LLC which is aptly named for the fearless efforts and bold undertakings behind Why Wolves Howl at the Moon (children’s book) and The Supreme I See: The Deracinated States of America? (novel).
Mr. Yancey says that his greatest success and joy are captured in family photos with his wife, Jewell; his son, Gregory, II; and his stepdaughter, Cora.
Deliah
Lawrence: What inspired you to be a poet?
Gregory D. Yancey:
Like so many people, I often think, learn, and express myself through metaphors
and analogies. Words have often been my favorite tools. I see words as the
paint and the canvas has often varied from speech, essays, reports, and stories
in the classroom. As I got older, I found joy and solace in poetry; however,
most of my poetry remains personal. I have done some spoken word and dramatic
pieces in the past, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to publish my
poetry.
DL: Do you
have any reflections about life in general?
GDY: Love, love, and love. Life is too short to be angry, hateful, depressed, or even fearful. I know it is easier to say than to walk out especially for my brothers and sisters who have experienced trauma or suffer from physical, emotional, or spiritual complications but I believe we should all reach for love and extend it to others.
DL: What
tips would you give to aspiring poets?
GDY: Read, write, and publish. You have medicine that people need. You need to deliver it. Read to expand your vocabulary and appreciation of different rhythms and cadences. Write to get your ideas fixed. Publish through books, video, performances, etc. so others can get healed by your medicine. This also helps you practice your craft.
DL: In
celebration of National Poetry Month, can you share with us a few of your
poems?
GDY: Sure, here you go:
The Supreme I See by Gregory D. Yancey (2021) All Rights Reserved
Why learn history if we’re not going to learn from history?
White supremacy is suicidal ideology. For the majority to shame the minority to maintain superiority keeps everyone in a place of inferiority. Because when you enslave others you’re enslaved by The Supremacy. You’re enslaved by hate and chained by apathy.
The Supremacy doesn’t cover the inadequacy. The Supreme I See that burns in me, yearns for a unity that cannot be divided by prejudice or bigotry. The Supreme I See that overwhelms me recognizes your humanity and rightful entitlement to equality. When we trade hate for hate what is left in our hands? Nothing more than an intergenerational legacy of despondency and descendancy! You kill me today and my babies will kill your babies tomorrow. Which tribe will ever have supremacy when we all have casualties and peace remains illusory? Our children should inherit more than our anger and insecurity. I fight for The Supreme I See not The Supremacy.
What will be our destiny? Who wins when the world burns? Who wins when our fire is incendiary instead of luminary? Our fire must bring light. The Supreme I See blinds me to any other way to be. His story? We failed to learn. People hung, crosses burned, let’s not return to killing with no concern. Holocausts with a heck of a cost, so much blood and lives that have been lost. Never again will we say ‘never again,’ until the next time someone wants to claim The Supremacy. Never again will we say ‘never again,’ but it happens again when evil seeks power and power seeks dichotomy. Race becomes a game that we’re all forced to play. I live for The Supreme I See not The Supremacy.
False classifications with real ramifications. ‘Black people this.’ ‘White people that.’ They will call your group evil without trying to be good. Or you’ll speak hate about a religion that you never understood and ramble quite idiotically. Can you give someone from a different faith clemency? Hmm, can we steer clear from hypocrisy towards fidelity to the goodness that’s divined within your divinity? I believe in The Supreme I See not The Supremacy.
False classifications without biological or geographical accuracy. Why draw lines where none exist? Why create stereotypes and scapegoats and spread dishonesty? But you promote The Supremacy not The Supreme I See. Genocide is suicide. Killing seed and killing opportunity. World solutions and cures for diseases could come from a so-called minority. Hate undermines our collective potentiality. Us versus Them is never a win-win. There must be an urgency to be intolerant of intolerance and its resurgency.
The Supreme I See also requires minorities to reject the status and apparatus that shapes the identity of inferiority. No anger, no bitterness, no perpetuation of hate against the oppressor or the oppressed even in the face of adversity. The Supremacy will cause us to be more in love with our skin than their skin or to hate their skin more than our skin. The Supremacy blinds us to their legitimacy. The Supreme I See envisions a greater identity in our collectivity. Imagine a nation valuing love as the only supremacy. What is the supreme you see? Do you see The Supreme I See?
Raise your eyes to diversity! Raise your eyes to humanity! Raise your eyes to equity!
Do you see The Supreme I See? I need you to fight for love and to stand with me!
Failure is not an option. Hate is a problem, not a solution. Do you want The Supremacy or The Supreme I See?”
Love is a means and an end. That’s The Supreme I See! It’s love. That’s all I see. That’s The Supreme I see!
Why Wolves Howl at the Moon by Gregory D. Yancey (2019) All Rights Reserved.
I know why wolves howl at the moon at night
It’s not because they’re singing with all of their might.
It isn’t because they’re lonely in need of love,
And crying to the moon that’s hanging above.
I know why wolves howl at the moon at night.
It was under a full moon where they finally saw
the light.
There is a country way up north that’s half covered in
snow.
It isn’t for people. It is a place where only animals go.
This country run by animals was a country filled with war.
The wolves hated each other because of the color of their
fur.
Red wolves and grey wolves couldn’t tell you when the war
began.
They never had a moment of peace without a fight starting
again.
“Grey wolves are dirty. Stay away from them!”
Red wolves would say in a tone so grim.
“Red wolves are stupid and only know how to hate,”
Grey wolves would say as if they were so great.
Ms. Polar Bear tired from going to hospitals to see hurt
friends.
She wondered if Mr. Owl could find a way to make the fighting
end.
Ms. Polar Bear took the problem to the owl’s brilliant mind.
Mr. Owl quickly figured out a way to teach the wolves to be
kind.
The wise owl told the red wolves he’d help them win the
fight.
“Just meet me at the great oak not a second past midnight.”
Then, he told the grey wolves he’d defeat their enemy
indeed.
“See you at the oak at midnight. I’ll give you everything
you need.”
At midnight, the wolfpacks stumbled along and could not see
The color of fur of their approaching enemy.
The wise owl perched on the oak’s branch as the sky awaited
the moon.
He preached to his wolf congregation that peace was coming
soon.
“No more pain, my friends. No more studying war!
No more being hated because of the color of your fur.
“I know how you can give your children the peace they
deserve!
It’ll take true courage, but you must have the nerve.
You want the war to end today. Will you do whatever it
takes?”
The wolves yelled, “Yes, we must for our children’s sakes!”
“Accept a wolf who is different as a sister or a brother”,
Said Mr. Owl as the moon beams revealed each
wolf’s fur color.
The owl said, “I have deceived you greatly, but I needed
you to realize
That greys and reds are quite similar if you see with kind
eyes.
Hate is too heavy of a burden to carry, to have, or to
hold.
It’s time to move on, to forgive, and to be bold.”
The wolves agreed to have fun and to stop being mean.
They’ll tell the truth: reds aren’t stupid and
greys are quite clean.
I know why wolves howl at the moon at night.
It was under a full moon where they finally saw
the light.
Wolves howl at the moon to tell us they’re all in the same
pack.
They learned from the years of hatred and won’t ever go
back.
People shouldn’t hate each other either for the
color of their skin.
We should judge one another by the heart that’s
within.
Let’s make the world nicer by the things we say and do!
Join the Wolfpack of Kindness! Please howl AWOOOOOOOO!
Let’s try this again. I want to hear
you howl as loudly as you can.
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DL: What new
projects are you currently working on?
DY: Thanks
for having me!
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