Hi, everyone. I am a Poet looking to learn and grow here and make some connections.

I want to take a moment to say thank you and I appreciate you all for your support and patience!! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been a bit absent and I want you to understand why. A few weeks ago, when I was preparing for a huge undertaking for one of my client organizations, I had a tragedy in my family. On the day before I flew out for the first of three poetry events across three states in six days, I found out my father was in the hospital. The day I returned from the first successful event, my father passed on Easter Sunday. In that same window: - I rushed home to make my daughters’ Easter play - Celebrated my youngest daughter’s 8th birthday two days later - Flew back out to complete the final two poetry contests in two different states - And all the while, helped plan my father’s homegoing It was a lot. But this is also the poet life... the life of a poetry business owner. Real life doesn’t pause. Responsibilities don’t disappear. You just learn how to carry it all and keep moving forward. I’m grateful to share that the 3-day military homegoing was a success, and my father was honored well. Why I’m Sharing This Not for sympathy, but for perspective. This journey we’re on requires: - Discipline - Commitment - Adaptability - And the ability to keep building, even when life is happening 🚀 Moving Forward I’m back. Back present. Back focused. Back ready to work. And I hope you are too. We’re already up and we’re moving forward. Let’s get back to the work. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXg7s7AkZgf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== — Christoph

It's been a bitter/sweet few days to say the least. The day before I flew to Kentucky to execute a now-successful poetry event for a client, I received a phone call informing me that my father, Bruce Jenkins Jr., was in the hospital here in Maryland and was in pretty bad shape, but stable. I flew out to Kentucky the next day (Friday) praying he'd still be with us when I returned. I made sure this was a very short trip (24hrs) so I could also see my 3 daughters perform in the Easter Sunday play at my home church, New Samaritan Baptist Church. I flew back on the earliest flight possible on Easter Sunday and got the chance to experience their brewing-greatness. However, shortly thereafter, I received a call from the hospital saying my father took a turn for the worse and we needed to make our way there. It would be our last chance. Fortunately, we got the opportunity to see him one last time, but, unfortunately, he passed away that evening. Although grieving, we've begun the homegoing planning process the next day (yesterday, Monday), but today is also my youngest daughter's 8th birthday. We've yet to tell the girls to shield them from having to deal with the rollercoaster of emotions we're dealing with at the moment given the two happy occasions I just mentioned just occurred and is currently occurring. We'll break it to them this coming weekend. While helping to plan the funeral, I'm also in the final planning stages of 2 back-to-back poetry events; one at South Carolina State University on this Thursday and the other here in DC at Howard University on Friday. Needless to say, I'm in a challenging place mentally, emotionally, and logistically. Usually, I don't post detailed posts like this; especially about the death of a loved one, but I thought it'd be, feel, and look weird (somewhat inappropriate) for me to continue enthusiastically posting and promoting about my events in a couple of days without sharing/mentioning the passing of my father. While I'm working my business, I'm also working through all of what I'm feeling. I'm ok... and I'll be ok. I just appreciate all of the condolences and support for our family during this tough time. Just know we are comforted in knowing that our earthly father is home with our heavenly Father... so all is well. Thank you all!

🎉Please join me in congratulating our very own @Joshua Clark, also known as Roses, for joining the Judge’s panel of Yecheilyah’s Annual Poetry Contest‼️ 👉🏾Head over to Instagram and let’s show the power of this community by sending him some love! 🌹 @sculptedrosescompany

Peace Family, I am Brother Earl A Poet out of NYC (HARLEM) that has over 25 Years in the Game as a Spoken Word Artist, Expressive Arts Therapist and Slam Refugee. Additionally, I have created several Poetry Albums that can be listened to and purchased at Brotherearl.bandcamp.com Touring and Collaborative Opportunities welcomed