More About Gwendolyn Brooks...

Gwendolyn Brooks was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize and the first black woman to hold the position of poetry consultant to the Library of Congress - this in addition to being chosen as the Poet Laureate of the State of Illinois. At age 13 her first published poem appeared in American Childhood and by 17 her poetry was often published in the Chicago Defender newspaper. Her many other honors and positions held are far too numerous to mention here.

Her prolific body of work was largely about being black in urban America, especially during the 60s and beyond, and reflected her strong commitment to racial identity and equality. It has been reported that she considered visiting elementary schools and community colleges one of her most important roles in social edification. Her self described "folksy narrative" included varied forms of free verse, sonnets, and other models. One of her well known works is a haiku titled "We Real Cool" which is as relevant in today's society as when published in 1966.

'Gwen' Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas, June 7, 1917, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was a janitor, who had aspired to be a doctor, and her mother was a school teacher and classical pianist. While being very strict and not allowing her to even play with the neighborhood children both parents fully supported and encouraged their daughter's love of books and reading.

Brooks considered herself "essentially an essential African" and understood that "the black emphasis must be not against white but for black." She envisioned a future with "the shaking of hands (very important in African society) in warmth and strength and union."

Although she passed far too soon for those who admired, respected and loved her, Gwendolyn Brooks did not "die soon." She passed from this earth December 3, 2000 at the age of 83.

We Real Cool

By Gwendolyn Brooks

We real cool. We

Left school. We

Lurk late. We

Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We

Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We

Die soon.

Shared Wisdom, Evolving Experience

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

Photo by Di Pugh

While attending Roane State Community College (1983-85) I was privileged to meet and photograph Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. As a budding photojournalist, I was impressed by this kind and stately lady. She touched my heart and soul.
Sometime later on, I dreamed about a funeral and rose early from my bed to write it down while the memory was fresh. The words flowed in poetic form which I titled simply "The Funeral." Writing down what I had dreamt the night before used to be a fun and interesting hobby of mine but it was very time consuming and I have since gotten out of the habit.
For many years "The Funeral" remained in my old wire-bound, handwritten journal and occasionally, when I ran across it while searching for some other perceived treasure, I thought of Gwendolyn Brooks and how her life experiences evolved into words on paper...her wisdom thus shared freely with a world in much need of it.
Unlike her volumes of well recognized and published work, my poetry is largely unpublished and I feel privileged to post a piece of it here. I dare not compare my work to hers for I would fall far short.

THE FUNERAL
by Di Pugh

They marched up the street in rhythm jive
held together by the black box burden they each had part to.
Laughing
joking
up the way they came
the burden they carried had not even a name
just some old dude with silver hair.
The neighbors watched
yet it did not seem strange
looking out doors with holes where the dog wants in they only watched
it was an every day game.
When they reached the corner to turn the last mile they suddenly stopped
and gone were all smiles.
They began to chant another slower rhythm jive
Swing Low
Sweet Chariot
swing.
Everyone Sing!
You didn’t sing to the drums.
We must go back where we started from.
Swing Low
Sweet Chariot
swing.
Sing! when you see us come’n.
Sing! as we pass on by.
Sing! till we’re gone plumb out’a sight.
Swing Low
Sweet Chariot
swing.
Sing! till the wind sighs with a fevered scream.
Sing! till this old black box rest in the angels wings.

Am I up to this challenge?

Working miracles on old photos is usually a welcome challenge, but "doctoring" the following two images may be an impossible task. The environment has been unkind to them - water stains, dirt smudges, rips, crinkles and overall fading bear witness to their carelessly handled history. But still they are neat images and well worth preserving. I am posting them here first sans restoration, and then will update them as my work on them progresses.

The portrait above is of the Goss Family - Morris, Eliza, Jeff, Allen and Louise - on their front porch somewhere in Cumberland County, Tennessee probably in the early 1900s.

This is John Dial and Alma Barnes posing together on a porch also somewhere in Cumberland County, Tennessee circa 1910, according to a notation on the back of the original photograph.
Were they engaged? Did they marry? And have children? Maybe I'll find out as I work on the restoration.

Postcard from a Montana Porch

"This was taken when we were up in Billings. Sister Emma is holding Baby. Last Sunday Mr. Chaffee took some Kodak pictures of Ralph and Baby and Baby alone. Hope they will be good.

Sister Maire stopped from Saturday until Monday on her way back to Billings. Had a good dinner Sunday of fried chicken, etc.
Made six glasses of choke cherrie jelly today, the first we have put up this season, fruit comes so high.
Today it is raining and looks like it could some more.
We are invited out in the country to eat watermelon Sunday don't know if we will go or not.
Baby is gaining weight every day. All of us send our love." Beda
Custer, Montana, Aug. 23, 11.

Favorite Porch Pictures...

This photograph is from my personal collection of vintage black and white prints and one of my favorite "porch pictures". As is true with many of the images in my collection, I do not know the who, what, where and why of it. It's just a beautiful moment in the life of a family.

Isn't their home lovely? And wouldn't you love to go inside for coffee? It would, no doubt, be a strong cup with rich flavor. And the smell of leather bound books would be almost as strong as the aroma of their fresh brewed coffee.

You see, that's the fun of having photos of strangers, you can only imagine what their lives are like and then make up your own stories about them.