In July 2023, In The Shadow of Rainbows debuted on Amazon and I received
irreplaceable support from this WordPress community. In that light, I’d like to
lend support to a few of the generous bloggers who offered interviews. I’m
forever grateful–even a year later. Thank you so much.
Slice of Life
Flanked between two wanings, I live you,
planting the light hours with loving acts,
for you, for us, for our ménage,
and when I meet the dusk, filled,
ready for our mingling at the table,
where we swap slices of lived moments
of the same day, hearts swell replete.
Page 104- In The Shadow of Rainbows
insight — Interviewed by Author Lauren Scott
Please visit Lauren Scott’s Website to view the interview where I tell you about my
stint with Samba (if you missed it last year), and browse. Lauren is the author of
several books and I highly recommend the visit.
I chose one of the shortest poems in the collection to share with you. It’s strategically placed
as the penultimate poem in the book, and I’m happy to elucidate on this poetry form that touched
me.
In its true form, it’s a Kwansaba poem, an African American verse form of praise: a praise poem
that celebrates family. The Kwansaba (Swahili kwan -first fruit/saba -principle) was created in
1995 by Eugene B Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate and professor of English at Southern
Illinois University-East St. Louis. The form was developed in honor of the celebration of
Kwanzaa. The poetic form adopts the number 7 from Kwanzaa’s Nguzo Saba (7 principles) as well
as embraces its roots in the South African tradition of the Praise Poem.
The 7 principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility,
cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each day of the celebration focuses on
one of the principles. Isn’t this just such a beautiful principle? I think it is, as all the
principles take off at unity which starts at the family level. (ready for our mingling at the
table).
I wrote it originally for a dVerse prompt in December 2021–then, I abbreviated some words to
meet the exact count of sevens but changed it a bit for clarity to include in the book. It’s
about family, and I hope you like it.
*
…from the bottom of my heart,
Happy Sunday
Amazon link to Author Lauren Scott’s books on Amazon. Please view.
(start with any book–they will take you to a gentle place. Promise)
(subtle suggestion: Ever So Gently)
- Two Cures for Love: Poem by Wendy Cope - September 17, 2024
- For The Birds: A Reblog from September 2021 - September 16, 2024
- Giving Back: Insight Into One Poem Shared with Author Lauren Scott - September 15, 2024
how lovely. Lauren is a generous and very talented writer in her own right –
Oh yes. A talented writer. And I’m so happy to be in her presence (and yours too) here on WordPress. Thanks so dearly, Beth. 🤗
I’m happy to be in your presence, Selma. and in Beth’s. I loved doing this interview with you about your beautiful debut book. Congrats again for all of your success and I hope you continue to soar. 🌷
Thanks so much for your kind words, Beth. I appreciate them very much.
It’s a beautiful review.
Thanks for the support, dear Sadje.
Most welcome 🙏🏼
A brilliant review.
Thanks Diana. Have a great new week.
You too 💕