Our National Poetry Month Series for 2021 Kicks off With Leslé Honoré

It’s National Poetry Month Again!  If you have been visiting here for a while, you know what that means—it’s our 10th annual round-up of daily doses of verse!  If you are new, here’s the scoop.  Every day all month I will feature poets and their poems.  I aim to be as broad and inclusive as possible to style, subject, period, gender, race, and neglected voices. 

I don’t want just a parade of the usual dead white men, but a lot of them did write some damn fine poetry, so they have their place here too.  As always, selections follow my own tastes and whims.  Yours may be different.  But I am open to—eager for—suggestions, especially for contemporary writers.  I do not subscribe to dozens of little magazines or prowl the internet for poetry posts.  I often only stumble on new and unknown poets and I am sure I miss some great stuff.  Please feel free to turn me on to some—or be bold and submit your own. 

Here is a challenge—Poets, send me your responses to the Coronavirus pandemic be it personal, political, or polemical.  Everybody, send me pieces that catch your eye.  I don’t and can’t promise to use everything.  E-mail me at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net .

Blaxican poet Leslé Honoré now based in Chicago has been making a splash with her timely and topical verse.

Leslé Honoré describes herself as a “Blaxican Poet, artivist, and author.” Her book Fist & Fire is a collection of powerful, unflinching poems that confront issues of social justice through the lens of real human lives and voices, and dive into the flames of love within the context of a relationship.  Her poetry and life empowers youth to find their voices through the arts, and to inspire people to stand in the gaps that social, economic, and racial inequities create.

Born and raised in Gardena, California, she remains deeply rooted in the heritage and culture of her father, a native of New Orleans and mother who was born in Sinaloa, Culiacan, Mexico, and immigrated to the US when she was 15. 

Honoré’s first book Fist & Fire:  Poems that Inspire action and ignite passion stirred a lot of interest.

Poetry was always how Honoré expressed herself, discovering her writer’s voice in childhood.  She further honed her work at Xavier University of Louisiana where she studied English Literature and Spanish. She was a featured speaker at the inaugural Tedx Grand Boulevard in 2020. She has spoken and read her work at Obama Foundation convenings and events, the 2020 Watermark Innovation Conference, Elevated Chicago Symposium, the City of Chicago’s 19th Amendment Commemoration, Latino Progresando’s 2020 MEXtalks,  the University of Illinois Chicago’s Speaking Anarcha’s Name, the Mercantile Library in Cincinnati,  and at events including the Silver Room Block Party and National Period Day. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and on WBEZ (NPR), The Kendall Moore Show on WVON, and all major Chicago TV news outlets.  She also hosts a web-based series, Bestie Shine, with her friend, artist David Anthony Geary.

Leslé lives in Chicago with her three children Sage, Solomon, and Scarlett. Her forthcoming book, Letters and Lagniappe, will be released this year. You can follow Leslé on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Visit her web page for much more information.

Honoré has frequently been featured on broadcast media and is a regular presence on social media.

Honoré’s poem for Women’s History Month is the perfect segue from that observance to National Poetry Month.

This is for the women

With 9 to 5s

And 7 to 3s

First shifts

And graveyard

With full times

And part times

Who have more month left

Than money

But still make rent

With passports

With no stamps

With vision boards

Of destinations

They are saving to see

With dreams they tuck away

And pull out late at night

Or early in the morning

While the babies are still sleep

Turn it over in their hands

And then shelve it again for safe keeping

This is for the women

Without titles without pensions

With some college

And a lot of loans

With late night classrooms

Online studies

Who won’t give up

Who run the world

On grit and perseverance

This is for the women

Who are anything but

Ordinary

But the world sees as regular

This is for the magicians

Who weave spells of hope

For their children

While putting their hopes on pause

This is for the over the counter

Beauty Queens

With Wet and Wild Lips

And Walgreens legs

And Suave smelling hair

For the women who look in the mirror

To see some one familiar

Because they rarely see reflections

Any where else

For the hustlers

Who with tired feet

And tired backs

And spirits whispering

Keep moving

We are almost there

For the women who know

Liberation isn’t found in the clothes they wear

The shoes on their feet

But the dignity in their souls

This is a song for you

Resourceful

And resilient

Moving mountains for your family

I see you

Stunning and Strong

I see you

Brilliant and beautiful

while putting their hopes on pause

With passports

With no stamps

This is for the women

With 9 to 5s

And 7 to 3s

First shifts

And graveyard

With full times

And part times

Who have more month left

Than money

But still make rent

With vision boards

Of destinations

They are saving to see

With dreams they tuck away

And pull out late at night

Or early in the morning

While the babies are still sleep

Turn it over in their hands

And then shelve it again for safe keeping

This is for the women

Without titles without pensions

With some college

And a lot of loans

With late night classrooms

Online studies

Who won’t give up

Who run the world

On grit and perseverance

This is for the women

Who are anything but

Ordinary

But the world sees as regular

This is for the magicians

Who weave spells of hope

For their children

While putting their hopes on pause

This is for the over the counter

Beauty Queens

With Wet and Wild Lips

And Walgreens legs

And Suave smelling hair

For the women who look in the mirror

To see some one familiar

Because they rarely see reflections

Any where else

For the hustlers

Who with tired feet

And tired backs

And spirits whispering

Keep moving

We are almost there

For the women who know

Liberation isn’t found in the clothes they wear

The shoes on their feet

But the dignity in their souls

This is a song for you

Resourceful

And resilient

Moving mountains for your family

I see you

Stunning and Strong

I see you

Brilliant and beautiful

I see you

Making a life

Out of thin air

Today is for you

An ordinary day

Unmarked on the calendar

No decorations at target

No songs to commemorate

Just an ordinary day

Full of promise

Full of possibilities

Full of hope

Full of magic

Just like you

You who pushes on

You who doesn’t give up

You who bends but doesn’t break

You

This is for you

You with the stars in your hair

Sun on your lips

Moonlit cheeks

This is for you

You are anything but regular

You are the

UNIVERSE

 

—Leslé Honoré