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Books by Marcus Bruce
Christian
Song of the Black Valiants: Marching Tempo
/
High Ground: A Collection of Poems /
Negro soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans
I am New
Orleans: A Poem
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Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900 /
The Liberty Monument
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DN22
The Poet's
Tryst with Destiny
[not
dated]
He
is much more the sage or the prophet of two generations and many
times the martyr for both. He is the master artist forever
holding the heart in leash that it may not come in conflict with
the head.
He
must search for a new poetic language while experimenting with
the old, with all its hackneyed symbols and trite phrases and
many times-learned rhymes. Symbols change to each generation.
What means life to one generation may mean death to the other or
vice versa. The meanings of symbols are constant by being
modified . . . or transposed altogether. Other gods than those
we are accustomed to, make their entrance into his newer scheme
of things. Old gods go. Although in most cases, the deeper, more
primitive things of life remain, and will remain about the same
as ever.
While
not being boastful, the true poet must have a conception of a
great pride and an abiding faith in his own destiny. He must be
able to recognize good poetry at a glance and good poetic
material by a word.
Many
times, because of his aloofness to his surroundings, he is
cut-off, not in harmony with his readers. But still he is always
called upon at the crucial moment to supply the proper poetic
medium for the expression of a world grown weary of prose. He is
many respects the fabled alchemist of old, seeking some dark
secret process whereby he can transmute base metals in the
much-desired goal of human desires and aspirations.
He
is more to be pitied than censored or criticized if he fails to
find that precious element much needed in this transmutation.
Very few of these word alchemists are successful in their search
or use of this necessary media. Some say it is sorrow. Some say
that it is a great discernment or perception, some say that it
is a . . . gift; but not matter what very few have been known to
possess it in a very great degree.
He
must be one of the greatest word experts that is possible. He
must feel, instinctively the different shades of meaning each
word possesses. He must not fail. To him is never conceded the
luxury of error. His meaning must be precise. To be successful,
he must know the exact reactions of a reader to a certain word.
Many times after all of his efforts, he finds at the end that it
is a thankless task.
One
thing of which the poet is notoriously famous for is his ignorance
or indifference to worldly matters, things mundane. He lifts up
his head under the inspiration of the Muse, his mind soars into
the stars and for the moment it matters not that there are holes
in his shoes, or that his clothes are threadbare. His is the
supreme indifference to things that be, even though they rack
his body with pain, discomfiture, or hunger.
To
him time is an error -- space is a lie -- the world a shadow.
When first he learned to sing his simple song he met Fate and
her older sister, Destiny. Said Fate: "O gifted one, I have
a tryst with you, somewhere in later years." Said Destiny:
"Here, I do perceive an error, your tryst is with him now
-- mine yet to be." And so he travels through the years,
keeping his tryst with Destiny.
<<---Previous Next---23->> * *
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Selected Letters
Selected Diary Notes Memories of Marcus B. Christian
(Cains) Christian's
BioBibliographical Record Introduction to I AM NEW
ORLEANS
A
Theory of a Black Aesthetic Magpies,
Goddesses, & Black Male Identity
Activist Works on Next Level of Change
Intro to I Am New
Orleans
Letter from Dillard University
A
Labor of Genuine Love
Letter of Gift of
Photos
Letters from
LSU and Skip Gates * * *
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Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900
By Marcus Bruce
Christian
Study of the blacksmith
tradition and New Orleans famous lace
balconies and fences.
Acclaimed during his life as the unofficial
poet laureate of the New Orleans
African-American community, Marcus Christian
recorded a distinguished career as
historian, journalist, and literary scholar.
He was a contributor to Pelican's
Gumbo Ya Ya, and also wrote many
articles that appeared in numerous
newspapers, journals, and general-interest
publications. |
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Audio:
My Story, My Song (Featuring blues guitarist Walter Wolfman Washington)
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Bob
Dylan: Only a pawn in their game /
The
Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
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Panel on Literary Criticism
26 March 2010
National Black Writers Conference
Patrick Oliver, Kalamu ya Salaam,
Dorothea Smartt, Frank Wilderson discuss
the use of literature to promote
political causes and instigate change
and transformation. The event is at the
Medgar Evers College at the City
University of New York.
C-Span Archives
Panel on Politics and Satire
26 March 2010
National Black Writers Conference
Herb Boyd, Thomas Bradshaw, Charles
Edison and Major Owens discuss how
current events are reflected in the
writings of African Americans. The
event is at the Medgar Evers College at
the City University of New York.
C-Span Archives |
update 17 April 2010 |
