“I don’t want you to understand my poetry. I want my poetry to understand you.” -Roy McBride
Powderhorn poet and spokenword master Roy McBride will be sincerely missed.
He was an early participant in the Powderhorn Art Fair and through the years co-founded Poetry for the People, the Powderhorn Writers Festival, the Continental Historical Reclamation Project and the Dream Band to name a few.
The legacy of his jazzy, bluesy sensibility and street poet influence will be remembered by all who knew him.
Memorial scheduled for September 16.
Links
A Poet Poets: Roy McBride a film directed by Mike Hazard
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
For Roy McBride
A Crossing.
A leaving, a passing, a going, a crossing.
Gone…… but yet here, still….
Your light of kindness warm and glowing.
Gentleness lined, and imprinted your countenance.
Gone…. but yet here, still.
You moved through life quietly…. with peace, but your steps
your foot prints, made a noise… letting those you touched know
the rivers, burbling streams of consicousness and creativity within your
noble being.
Gone…… Gone… ah, but yet in my heart and my mind….. and the words you left still here.
8-11-2011
@copyright
KC Sondai
Haiku for a Poet
for Roy McBride
Your spirit is like
Birds in leafed-out trees,
Their songs, your poems.
Rebecca Paradis
7/30/11
Saw two little boys
Friday morning,
standing on the corner
waiting for the bus,
their arms full of lilacs
for the teacher.
It’s lilac week.
Lilac week.
The whole world
overtaken by lilacs.
In the backyard
of the banker/lilacs.
Next to the condemned
house they’re tearing
down next week/beautiful lilacs.
Uptown/lilacs.
In the country/lilacs.
In the suburbs/lilacs.
It’s lilac week.
The whole world
overwhelmed by lilacs.
And Roy’s poem goes on . . . with sweet rhythm and color, a celebration of spring and life. Thank you, Roy, for helping us see beauty in everything.
Roy McBride was my good friend three decades ago. We read our poetry together every chance we got, and I found Roy to be a most gentle, peaceful man.
I still remember his poetry, in particular the one about Mariah. Roy was true and sure and calm and steady. Thank you for posting the video. Roy was so young. Now I will imagine him in that place where the dearly beloved are waiting. I continue to revere my memories of his voice and presence. When I think of him my heart is full of love.