i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always in bowls
folding, pinching, rolling the dough
making the bread
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always under water
sifting rice
blueing clothes
starching lives
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always in the earth
planting seeds
removing weeds
growing knives
burying sons
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always under
the cloth
pushing it along
helping it birth into
skirt
dress
curtains to lock out
night
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always inside
the hair
parting
plaiting
twisting it into rainbows
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always inside
pockets
holding the knots
counting the twisted veins
holding onto herself
lest her hands disappear
into sky
i know the grandmother one had hands
but they were always inside the clouds
poking holes for the
rain to fall.
 
 
by Jaki Shelton Green
 
 
 

Jaki Shelton Green's reflections on serving as the first Piedmont Laureate

 
 
As the first appointed NC Piedmont Laureate, I have come to cherish all the sound advice that has been offered to me over the years relative to what it takes to bring professional achievement as a writer within reach. The words of dancer, Twyla Tharp helped to guide me in my capacity as Laureate. “In order to be creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative”.
 
I am very grateful for this opportunity which has allowed me to meet the diversity of readers, writers, and lovers of the literary arts across our region. As Piedmont Laureate, many public audiences embraced my poetry, stories and craftsmanship. It was an honor for me to hear the “stories of their stories”, inspirations, and great ideas about creativity and poetry. These experiences have challenged me to understand the framework of preparation, accessibility, and the necessary skills needed to continue to facilitate artistic processes that engage, inspire, and connect.
 
I was fortunate to participate in several formal and informal dialogues with Piedmont poets who are pushing the boundaries within the literary community. Hopefully, my suggestions for creating, exploring, and expanding these shared conversations amongst poets will manifest into more innovative facilitations of support for established poets, emerging poets and non-traditional writers and audiences.
 
During my tenure as Piedmont Laureate, I lost my eldest daughter to cancer in June 2009. My grief has not allowed me to execute several projects, explorations, and community based programs that I initially proposed but I bravely continue to serve as best I can in the spirit of my courageous daughter, Imani, who always encouraged me to “keep moving”.
 
My family and I are sincerely grateful and will always cherish the compassionate support of the Raleigh Arts Commission, the Durham Arts Council, United Arts Council of Raleigh, and the Orange County Arts Commission. These Laureate sponsors, as well as my many colleagues in arts and humanities organizations, human service affiliates, political activists, local governments, private citizens, and my dear literary friends offered much consolation and continue to render endearing, heartfelt acts of kindnesses.
 
I have been honored by this opportunity to serve as the 2009 Piedmont Laureate. This new experience has deepened my appreciation for the outstanding and sometimes unheard poetry of the Piedmont. My mission as a writer has always been to help amplify the stories, the truths, on paper...to help transform humanity one poem, one verse at a time.
 
It is my hope that my personal mission significantly influenced and demonstrated the mission of the Laureate in my efforts to promote awareness and heightened appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region.
 
Much peace and gratitude,
 

  Jaki Shelton Green
 
 
 

Photograph by Andrea Selch

Breath of the Song
available at Carolina Wren Press