By Lady Gray, February 21, 2017 —I look back fondly when I reflect on how I got started as a poet. For years, I was content to write poetry and keep the work tucked under my bed.
My sons encouraged me to publish my work so I started attending quite a few “How to Self-Publish” workshops. I am most grateful to the late Sharon Leonard Goodman who established a publishing company called In The Tradition Press. She facilitated workshops at various times to help people self-publish. I took a lot of notes each time I attended until I was convinced that I should self-publish my poetry.
Still, the most incredible events were going to see 3 of the most iconic poets I had ever read. The first one in 2002 was Gwendolyn Brooks whom I nicknamed “Lady Poet.” She came to Germantown Friends School and did a wonderful reading while someone from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf did her poetry in Sign Language. It was amazing. This was also the time when they were re-opening and re-naming the Northwest Regional Library. It would be known as the Joseph E. Coleman Regional Library and Gwendolyn Brooks was there after her reading signing books and greeting people. I met her and handed her one of my books and she gave me some words of encouragement. I read her work in high school but I don’t think I was ready but by the time I got to college, I understood her work so much more. After meeting her, I went home and wrote 6 poems!
My second iconic experience was the year one of my sons was to graduate from West Chester University. For my birthday in 2004, he took me to his campus to see my favorite poet, Dr. Nikki Giovanni! My leap of faith to read my poetry in public came after seeing her in 1970. She was fascinating, informative and inspiring. I got to hear her, my son bought me 2 of her books, I got her autograph AND she took a picture with me. Not only that, I was part of the small audience that attended the Q & A session after her reading. I was in 7th heaven!
The third best day for me was when my friend Victoria told me that she had a surprise for me. The year was 2014 and we were going to hear a speaker at the University of Pennsylvania. The surprise was not only were we going to see Dr. Maya Angelou, [but we] also had very good seats. I mean, down front we-can-see-her-clearly seats. Wow! First and foremost, Maya Angelou is a teacher and that night I learned a lot far beyond the poetry she read. Sitting there, hearing her, reinforced the concept that when I am invited to speak there should be more than poems offered; especially when speaking to young people. It blesses my soul to share life lessons along with what I write. It helps people understand why I write it.
Of these 3 icons, only one is still alive but when I do my poetic presentations, I keep all of them close to me.
