Ezra Pound famously opined that poetry is “News that stays news.” For many publications, poets are interviewed in a journalistic, narrative fashion, even when being interviewed by another poet. During the Poet to Poet series, we are turning that notion on its head, interviewing Minnesota poets from diverse communities in the forms they work in the most. This month we interview writer IBé Kaba.
IBé was born in Guinea, and grew up between Sierra Leone, Chicago, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities. Quite naturally, he lives in the Middle of the Atlantic…with a mailing address in Minneapolis, MN. Among others, he writes about the African Experience, both in Africa and in America. “Bridge Across Atlantic”, his first collection of poems, is a small dose of these stories.
In beginnings examined
Brightening reason, identities numinous, grateful souls,
Reflect: Early sights presenting energizing cosmic truths?
In darkness
The smallest light shines
Brightness of ten thousand stars;
Attracting heat-seeking beings like you and I.
But angels fall.
After summer winter comes.
When you throw it up
And it falls
Whose fault is that
If not yours?
Run tell it to the faithful!
There is no heaven on earth;
And no land is promised
Except the harvest of soil toiled with raw hands.
I have learned to live the dream I never had.
American society, entertaining cities reciting, eternal temptations.
How is destiny discovered, ever navigating
Ideas noteworthy, questions unique, interestingly revealing you?
I do this for the people!
Naw, I aint gonna lie
Ventriloquist for my ego
I do this for myself!
Center stage left
boxed in my 50-states cell
I do this for my nigga!
Breath amplified
My life is an echo
I do this for my cousin!
On the dance floor with the blinds
I tell my people
Every now and then
You gotta step on somebody’s toes.
Seriously!
I do this for my people!
Mysteries abound kindling education.
Knowing new opportunities wander
Aspiring, what awakens knowledge everywhere?
I am me
You are you
Together we are
1
Corn, a native of the Americas
Sustains life in East Africa
2
The moon seen in Australia
Same scene 12 hours later
In Greenland
3
Same cloud sewn skies
Same hills same valleys
Cradle same rivers same oceans
4
There is something to say
About the relationship between all things and all things
God and us things
Brothers eloquent, give ideas noble,
Assisting sisters, kingdoms inventing new ground,
Bridging realms. In doing good, exclaim:
Reasons, examples, a lyric important to you?
Beat beat beat ahhh
Beat beat beat ahhh
Quite often
We forget our saxophone when we introduce ourselves
Our djembe when we convey our wealth
Always bring your guitar when you
Walk down Via Dolorosa
And proclaim your seven peace—
The beginning is always the most difficult—
To your lover
Always bring your quartet
To help carry the load
For words are heavy
Especially when spoken aloud
Obtained from thinking, envisioned notions,
Tongues often unite, calm. Here:
Hearts enlightened, amazing lives,
Electrifying verse, energizing roads, yet one nudges expectantly:
Reply, is satisfaction elusive?
Write, revise
Write, revise
Right?
Revise, write
Revise, write
Revise.
Right? Perhaps
I fancy myself
A musician
Don’t know how to play any instrument
But words
I beat them
Squeeze them
See the sound they make
When placed in close proximity
To my tongue.
If my ears say no
I beat them
Squeeze them
See the sound they make
When placed in close proximity
To my tongue.
OCD with the pen
Hours to write a line
Done seldom comes
Only break this time
Next time new re-imagination of an old line:
Beginning is the most difficult
Difficult beginnings, righteous endings
Bones don’t bleed. Or the overseer gets tired after a while
Right? Perhaps
Consider how a new generation educates.
Returning often, a movement,
Everyone approaches tomorrows
Aligning in merit
Travellers rejoice at viewing exciting lands.
Expectations: Lives entwined voices active, telling, embraced stars?
6 pants (4 jeans)
5 shirts (3 tees)
3 pairs of shoes – Payless fresh
Wears and gears – clearance sale
My favorite rapper’s latest CD
Will teach you how to say fuck you
With the right American cadence.
Don’t ask people for what they cannot give
And they’d pacify you with what they have
As the smoke from burning garbage bellows
And fills the veranda we share
Loud in our silence
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