Tracking Events
I am reading Patricia Smith’s Blood Dazzler for the Lexington Poetry Gauntlet. I am fascinated by this poetic journey tracking Hurricane Katrina as it transforms into a full-blown mistress of destruction from August 23, 2005, the day Tropical Depression Twelve developed, through August 28.
Most (all?) poets have written poems about pivotal events that impacted their life story. Often those events have been the spur to ride the poetry wave. However, as I sniff, sip, and savor these Blood Dazzler poems I try to think about what my Hurricane Katrina could be:
- 2014 murder of Tamir Rice for the “crime” of playing while Black
- 2018 testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and subsequent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh
- 2020 murder of Breonna Taylor for the “crime” of being a Black woman who once dating a man suspected of selling drugs.
- 202? release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files (and previous reporting) highlighting how capitalism and patriarchy aid and abet predatory abuse of children and women (and always have).
Even if we have never ridden out a hurricane, we have lived through dramatic weather and/or natural disasters. I think the exercise of writing about one of these from the perspective of the storm offers a lot of potential.
We also were charged with listening to the Poetry Unbound episode with Patricia, “Poetry That Pays Attention.” In this conversation she lists Motown as one of her poetic influences which is a delight. One of my favorite poems they also discussed was “Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah.” Thinking about alternate futures is also a delicious invitation to write!
How can Patricia Smith, storms, music, and alternate paths provide inspiration for you? See American Wanderlust for more ways that Blood Dazzler has been talking to me.
