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National Poetry Month’s Feature: Poet Carolyn L. Robinson/LovePoet18

Poet’s Bio: Carolyn L. Robinson knew early on where her talents and interests lay and has been performing on stage as well as writing since the age of twelve.  Carolyn has published eight poetry books to date in addition to having her poetry published in several anthologies as well.  She is committed to keeping the arts alive in the communities around Baltimore.  She recently started an open mic out of her home.  It is called CJ’s Place and has already had some amazing artists come through and bless the mic.   

 

She is developing a new writing workshop focused primarily on the key artists associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She is also continuing to grow her open mic and may be looking at expanding it to a commercial property soon. 


You can find her on social media on FB under All That Drama Productions as well as Carolyn L. Robinson/Author or on IG @lovepoet18. She currently lives in Baltimore, MD.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to be a poet?

Carolyn L. Robinson: I was an avid reader and always enjoyed reading poetry and romantic novels.  The two kind of naturally came together.

 

DL: Is there any particular poet, author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?


CLR: The first two books that really made a difference for me was Maya Angelou’s - I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Ntozake Shange’s – For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough.  Maya Angelou’s book for its rawness and honesty and I learned from Ntozake that I could say whatever I wanted to exactly how I wanted to say it and it was okay.

 

DL: If you were hosting a dinner party which three poets would be your dream guests and why?


CLR: Definitely Ntozake Shange because I always felt like we would be good friends if we were to ever meet.  I am sad that is no longer a possibility.  I would also like to invite Nikita Gill (alive and well! And still possible) and probably if he were alive most definitely Langston Hughes.  I just admire him and his writing so much.

 

DL: What are three fun facts about yourself?


CLR: The three fun facts about myself are:

  1. I really do believe that I can do all things through Christ!  I live that and believe it with my whole being!
  2. I am super creative!  My mind is always on GO regarding ideas and coming up with strategies for doing something new.
  3. I always wished I could dance, but I don’t have any rhythm.  Still, it didn’t stop me from trying!

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


CLR: Sure, here you go:

  

Ain’t Love Grand

Ain’t love grand?

The way it leaps in bounds,

The way it overlooks imperfections,

The way it creeps into your

tiny crevices and drops bombs

that will explode at will.

 

Ain’t love grand?

The way it chases you

Runs wholeheartedly after you

Even when you treat it bad,

do it wrong

Watch it retreat-

Move away from you for years

And just when you think it’s dead and gone

it pulls a youie on your heart

And says I love you all over again.

It’s quite amazing that way.

 

Ain’t love grand?

The way it speaks without making a sound

Every gesture, flutter of the eyes,

Squeeze of the hand

Nod of the head

Clearly says something precious.

 

Ain’t love grand?

How it chooses

the oddest places to gather

and summon more of itself-

At bedsides-

in churches-

At front doors -

At gravesides-

It becomes a blanket around our feet

A book of stories,

And if you wait patiently,

Sit still for just a minute,

You can feel it brush against you

Become spirit and air

And tell you that you are loved.

 

 

Choose Joy

 

I am slowly realizing what joy is.

It is a grateful heart. It is understanding what could be but isn’t.

It is a living thing.

A thing we choose to add to our mornings,

Choose to bring to our afternoon picnics and sit at our dinner table like a centerpiece.

It is in the smiles we give away-

In the thank you’s and please and I’m sorry’s we pass around.

It is the price we pay to take away the sadness

we feel when people hurt us or treat us badly or even when people die and we can’t pretend to be happy any longer-

It is then we must choose joy;

Choose happiness in spite of what we feel and I know that’s hard.

But today,

Just for this moment,

Let’s collectively choose joy.

Choose happiness.

Choose life.

The kind that bubbles over. That melts your heart. That begins and ends with love.

Choose it for yourself. And let’s just see what happens.

 

Readers can learn more about me and my work at:    

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.


CLR: Thank you!









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