August 2023 MBR The Poetry Shelf

The Poetry Shelf

I Love My People
Kim Singleton
Broadleaf Books
510 Marquette Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.broadleafbooks.com
9781506486710, $15.99, HC, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Love-My-People-Kim-Singleton/dp/1506486711

Synopsis: With the publication of "I Love My People", Kim Singleton recounts with rhythmic prowess the beauty and legacy of Black people who are "too many to name, from the corners of obscurity, to the highest of fame".

"I Love My People" is a poetic tribute to African American history-makers and culture-shakers, coupled with nostalgic photography and vibrant, playful illustrations. With the power of her verse Kim Singleton invites us into call-and-response and brings a refreshing cadence to the page that captures every decade of Black joy in all its resilient, diverse, and excellent splendor.

With her poetry, Kim Singleton shines a light on virtually every facet of Black community life, and unapologetically declares her people good -- from the street corner to the White House and everything in between.

Critique: As memorable as it is inspiring, "I Love My People" is a compelling and inherently uplifting body of work that would grace any and all personal, professional, community, college, and university African American poetry collections. It should be noted that "I Love My People" is also available to students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Black Poetry and History in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Kimberly Singleton (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3269261/bio) is a filmmaker, writer, and poet. She earned a BS from Howard University and an MBA from NYU, Stern School of Business, forging a twenty-year career in media. Singleton's love for the arts led her to study at Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center, Gotham Writers Workshop, and African Voices Writers Workshop. Singleton is the executive producer and host of the online program Consider It Blacklit, winner of the Public Media Award of Excellence in 2018 and 2019.

The Dreams of the Gods
J. R. Solonche
Kelsay Books
https://kelsaybooks.com
9781639803392, $23.00, PB, 102pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Gods-J-R-Solonche/dp/1639803394

Synopsis: Assumption: A precocious / bumble bee has / stumbled here / from somewhere / and finding the garden / bare of bloom / so stumbles on elsewhere / one must assume.

The purpose of poetry is to affect both the emotions and the intellect of the listener/reader. With the publication of "The Dreams of the Gods", J. R. Solonche demonstrates his consummate skills and impressible talents as a wordsmith as revealed in this compendium of his verse.

Critique: Memorable, original, deftly crafted, and of special appeal to fans of free verse poetry, "The Dreams of the Gods" by J. R. Solonche is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university Contemporary Poets & Poetry collections. Also very highly recommended is "Leda" (Dos Madres, 9781953252777, $21.00, PB, 105pp), J. R. Solonche's thirty-first published book of original, noteworthy and skillfully structured verse.

Editorial Note: J. R. Solonche (https://poets.org/poet/j-r-solonche) is the author of Beautiful Day (Deerbrook Editions), Won't Be Long (Deerbrook Editions), Heart's Content (Five Oaks Press), Invisible (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize by Five Oaks Press), The Black Birch (Kelsay Books), I, Emily Dickinson & Other Found Poems (Deerbrook Editions), In Short Order (Kelsay Books), Tomorrow, Today and Yesterday (Deerbrook Editions), If You Should See Me Walking on the Road (Kelsay Books), and so many more outstanding works of literature and poetry.

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