“My sister in the Movement, Bernice Johnson Reagon [of Sweet Honey in the Rock fame] once told me a while ago in so many words, that during difficult times that it was essential to imagine ourselves on the other side of our traumatic conditions. Having a vision helps us to move through ‘the impossible’ because in each present moment we have more discernment about what before us will help manifest our vision and what won’t. I met Bernice in the 1960s and her artistry and wisdom still resonate across the decades.” — Louis Alemayehu, poet, musician, educator, and community elder
with healing in its wings
and loving dew will sparkle
upon our bare flesh,
innocent
naked
everything radiant
and blessed!
Louis Alemayehu was born December 31, 1945 in Chicago to parents of African, American Indian and European descent. As a writer, Alemayehu has used his poetry and storytelling to unite communities over environmental concerns. He is a founding member of the award-winning poetry/jazz ensemble Ancestor Energy and a co-founder with Juanita Espinoza of the Native Arts Circle, according to Wikipedia.
Alemayehu believes that “poets are accountable to their communities and that poetry is a tool for healing. His performances – lyrical twinings of jazz, chant, poetry, and song – are art-as-ritual, often performed ceremonially,” according to Minneapolis Institute of Art. He currently teaches at the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs in Minneapolis, with a focus on environmental sustainability. Alemayehu has spent time in Ethiopia exploring sacred and historical sites. He has been a community organizer with Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota and serves on the Minneapolis Energy Partnership Board. Alemayehu is a member of the Wild Path Collective in Osceola, WI. He is a Buddhist and the father of two daughters. Read other Art of the Week poems by Louis Alemayehu that we’ve published previously:The Holy Land is All the Earth (4/19/22 Newsletter)
One, No Matter What (2/15/22 Newsletter)
May Good Spirits Guide Us (11/30/21 Newsletter)