The AALBC in conjunction with BlackWords sponsored a contest for the "360� Degree A Revolution of Black Poets" event.  The question posed was "What is the importance of Black poetry?"  The response could be in prose or poetry.  The prize is a All Events Pass to the 360� Degree event and a personal web page on the AALBC.  The winning entry follows...

Reflections on Revolution and Writers

They screamed freedom.  Sailed the world on rafts of texture and sound to tell of the sticky gloom and sickly screws that bind bone to paper mache realities.

They spilled freedom. Painted spirituals coughed from tear- gassed dreams Blew poisoned darts and chords into leathery prey with ancestral chants and tom tom memories revived. They severed freedom from their hearts And bled Freedom words Freedom music Danced an ocean with the freedom of raw feet.

They sang or hummed, stretched their bodies, lips and hearts into tight choruses, sped solos onto brown paper bags. They brushed life into word, as multi-textured colors and sounds grasped for places within and beyond their imagined selves.

They woke to find they were nowhere gone- Still here Adrift on the world sea with growing children tucked under them, sculpting dreams from seaweed and sunsets.

Children, who make sails of their hearts dock on wounded shores to lend their healing wares.

Pamela Plummer
poetess@bellsouth.net