Poetry Challenge #307-Paradise!
Paradise Lost! Paradise Found! There are as many ideas of paradise as there are people. When James Baldwin is mentioned, it’s definitely The underside of paradise that comes to mind.
James Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, in Harlem, New York. A poet, playwright, novelist, he’s known for writing unflinchingly about the racism, race relations and what it’s like to be Black in America.
He found freedom as a human, and an author, after moving to Paris on a fellowship. A move, he noted, that allowed him to write more about his personal and racial background.
"Once I found myself on the other side of the ocean, I see where I came from very clearly...I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I must deal with both," —Baldwin, NY Times
James Baldwin’s first novel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, was published in 1953.
"Mountain is the book I had to write if I was ever going to write anything else. I had to deal with what hurt me most. I had to deal, above all, with my father.”
While James Baldwin is perhaps best-known for his essays and books such as Nobody Knows My Name, More Notes of a Native Son, and The Fire Next Time, he also wrote poetry.
This poem, “Le Sporting-Club de Monte Carlo,” Baldwin wrote for Lena Horne
In light of the freakish frightening weather patterns—including the torrential flooding in Vermont—the adage “be careful what you wish for,” came to mind after reading Baldwin’s untitled poem:
Poetry Challenge #307
Paradise!
As shown in Baldwin’s poem “Paradise” (above) everyone has their own idea of paradise.
Bonnie Raitt song, “Who But a Fool” written by Tom Snow & Nan O'Byrne has another version. The song begins: Paradise /I’ve got a man who loves me/in this life, puts no one else above me/it’s paradise…
What’s your idea of Paradise?
Aug 2 is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day—for some that might just be it!
The Saturday Review noted the success of Baldwin’s writing was that it “possesses a crystal clearness and a passionately poetic rhythm that makes it most appealing.”
Write a poem about one kind of Paradise.
Do as Baldwin would and define it with “crystal clearness” and “poetic rhythm.”
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2600+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
