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DETROIT NATIVE SUN
DETROIT NATIVE SUN
By Evelyn M. Bingham
SUN COLUMNIST
For the last four years, I have been trying to clarify in my mind, the intersection of journalism and poetry. You cannot distinguish journalism from poetry merely by saying, “one is an art and the other isn’t”. Journalism is mainly explicit and plain; Poetry is mostly implicit and suggestive. Poetry however; should not be dismissed, as it once was, as a fancy, as opposed to sober facts of practical people. Constructors of the imagination are not fancies, and never were! Writing poetry requires a selection and ordering of words, phrases and thoughts, and though the poet is engaged in word management, like the journalist, they arrange the words in ways that are vastly, but not entirely different.
Archibald MacLeish, a world renowned journalist and poet tends to be objective and dispassionate; poetry turns to emotional significance apart from the event itself. Poetry may take liberties with materials, which history and journalism are not free to take. What distinguishes poetry from journalism is not a difference in kind, but a difference in focus. Journalism is concerned with the look of the world; Poetry, is concerned with the feel of the world. We know by the head now; by the facts, by the abstractions. Sadly it seems, we have lost or are losing our human ability to feel them!
As previously stated, both journalism and poetry seek the truth, carefully choosing words to convey the right facts and emotions. Its apparent in every good journalist there’s a poet and vice versa. Andrew Springer, journalist, says poetry is about experiences while journalism is about facts, yet both seek the truth. Editor, poet of NYT magazine describes a poet, saying you tell the story, but you tell the story that’s under the story. The poet brings to light human reactions to grander events in the hope that people will see or recognize themselves in it. Journalists seek words that give clarity and precision. Poets seek words that express the inner truth. Poetry is the language of the heart, which seeks to unmask the hidden truth about what we truly feel. Mr. Springer, Exec. Producer, of NBC Stay Tuned, states what’s remarkable about poetry is their ability not just to use words, but savor them. Every single word is chosen for a specific meaning in a specific place to evoke specific feelings. He advises journalists to take a lesson from poets. Don’t just use words, savor them. Make our essential work lodge itself in the mind of our audience. Journalists look, poets feel, so if you want to describe a horrific plane crash and find the debris, send a journalist, if you want to find out what it felt like to be in the crash, send a poet! Better yet, send a Journalist-Poet for the complete story!
By Evangelist B. Colbert Brooks
SUN COLUMNIST
Some years back, I had proclaimed that, when I got around to it, I was going to let some people know just how blessed they are and that they really need to get down on their knees and give God some praise. I wanted to build a worldwide podium and remind everyone I knew just how good the Lord had been to them. Warning all who would hear that they did not wake themselves in the morning, nor were they capable of breathing the breath of life into themselves. One day I was going to just drop it like it’s hot, and tell everyone I encountered the real deal: Jesus Saves!
Well fast-forwarding some years later to this day, I still feel that way. Knowing the Lord for myself and righteously indignant. Justified by the faith I have in the Lord and speaking from experience that God is in fact tried and tested, a good God. Yet still seeing so much selfishness and indifference, from a generation of young and old ingrates, it seems that things are really no better; in fact, they actually seem worse. The human condition, in the eyes of a just God, is rapidly declining. The light of hope that can penetrate all darkness sometimes seems to have faded to a mere flickering flame.
There are still so many yet lost, so many still suffering, so many straddling the fence of Salvation’s lost and found. In hoping for others to know Him as I know Him, I wish for a spiritual taser to literally shock the non-believer into realizing the brevity of life, that tomorrow is not promised, that there’s no time like the present to know Him for yourself.
Now, it’s Christmas time again. The celebration of the birth of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. A holy One sent to mankind to offer a better way to live and die.
Ultimately securing a place in eternity for those who will come, where
hardships, sadness, and despairs shall be no more. As such, my wish for the world is
the acceptance of the gift of salvation. I did, by the grace of God, when I finally got around to hearing for myself.
I will continually proclaim with my words, my life, the very fiber of my being, that Jesus is Lord. With a spirit of righteous indignation I forge ahead with God as my pilot, relentlessly letting those whom I encounter that Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Light. My life forever foundationed and fortified by my faith in God. Hoping that my fellow man will desire to know the Truth, choose to follow His Way, and be drawn to the Light of His salvation that only He can give.
Let us consider the Lord while there is still yet time. Get around to placing Him a
priority, remembering that our days are numbered and time waits no man. Jesus is not only the reason for Christmas, He is the reason for every season. Therefore, let us all get around to proclaiming Joy to the World, the Savior lives waiting to get around to you!
Get Around to Him
Truth to Truth
