By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Speaking of poets, William Shakespeare once wrote; "The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven.
Throughout the month of April, some of Buffalo's finest poets have been sharing with us their glances from earth to heaven.
This special WBFO poetry series is a preview of Urban Epiphany, a poetry marathon event next week featuring about one hundred local poets. This week's poet profile is Brian Lampkin.
You wouldn't think Lampkin would have a lot of time for reflection.
The owner of the popular Rustbelt Books balances business with marriage and three children - two of those children are baby twin girls, balanced impressively one on each hip.
But Lampkin said poetry brings him beyond the concerns of the everyday.
You can hear Brian talk about and recite a sample of his work by clicking the "listen" icon above. And you can read his poem below.
Lampkin and about one hundred other talented Buffalo poets will present their work next Sunday at Urban Epiphany.
The marathon poetry event will be held from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Elmwood Avenue.
American Rubble
extremism is always a vice extremism is always a vice extremism is always a vice
goldwater had it all wrong czoglosz had it all wrong mcveigh had it all wrong
extremism is always a vice
sharon all wrong atomic dog all wrong even john brown all wrong
because absence is permanent beauty
oklahoma city is beautiful forever mckinley beautiful forever slepian beautiful forever
even the world trade center now beautiful forever
because absence is permanent beauty and extremism is always a vice
always reducing the human complex into virtue
virtue is always a vice god disappears into virtue and even god is beautiful when he's gone
oh power will you ever relent
cia wrong fbi wrong sla wrong
can power ever relent
napalm in the forset wrong bulldozers in the desert wrong
everett and sand creek wrong
munich '72 wrong atlanta '96 wrong
extremism is always a vice
extremism reduces life extremism reduces life extremism reduces life into virtue god becomes virtue patriotism becomes virtue revenge becomes virtue
extremism is always a vice extremism is always a vice grip on the other's throat
and virtue makes others of us all virtue makes others of us all virtue is always a vice revenge is virtue and virtue is american rubble and extremism is always a vice
and america will be beautiful forever