Have you ever been inspired by a single word or idea?
This week I am sharing a poem written by my longtime
friend, Greg Walker. During April, which is National Poetry Month in the United
States, Greg asked his social media communities for prompts in the form of a
word or phrase. Using these prompts for inspiration, he then wrote a poem a day
for the entire month of April. One of those prompts, provided by my husband,
Naldo, was simply: "Brasil."
Although Greg has traveled, he has not yet visited
Brazil. Even so, he took on the challenge of the prompt. After some quick research and likely some inspiration from
his friendship with Naldo and me, he wrote the poem that appears below. He says that part of the fun of art is developing something inspired by educated
guesses, and then putting it out to see how it resonates with people. Just like
in life, in art, we figure it out as we go along. Greg and I are both curious
to know what Brazilians think of his brief poetic tribute to this vast country.
One thing I admire about Greg and his poetry is that
he is not afraid to venture into unknown or uncomfortable places. His words,
like many colorful brushstrokes, adeptly weave ideas together, imparting
compassion and wisdom, with a touch of whimsy. In addition to being a poet,
Greg is also a musician. Be sure to check out his Soundcloud page. You can find
him and more of his poetry on Twitter @gregwalkerpoet, and you can find more of
his April poetry prompts here.
BRAZIL
by Greg Walker
if the land or the people
are anything like
its music
and i have reason to believe so
it rolls
it skips
it pops
it dances!
it is a revelation
a bossa nova
a “new trend”
like an armadillo
or a toucan
filled with so many
bronze rivers
like the Amazon
it is fluid
like the language
with its z’s and o’s and ah’s
it is a broad
electric smile
a home to friends
a haven to a million
magical
creatures
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| Artwork by Danielle H. da Silva |
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