Watch A Poet Poets: Roy McBride

A Poet Poets is a vivid video word ride with an old master of the spoken word, Roy McBride. The African American poet notes, "I don't want you to understand my poetry. I want my poetry to understand you." Born in 1943, Roy Chester McBride began his literary career at Magnolia Colored Elementary School in Magnolia, Arkansas in 1948. After learning his abc's and starting to read "Dick and Jane" and other great books of that period, Roy was bitten by the writing bug. It has never let go.

The director Mike Hazard writes, "A labor of love, I videotaped Roy on the fly starting in 1986. Recordings were made at The Loft, Roy's legendary poetry salons, a poetry in the schools residency, various poetry slams, impromptu poetings, intimate family get-togethers, a theatrical performance with Heart of the Beast Theatre on Lake Street, the print shop of the award-winning artist book maker Paulette Myers-Rich and the poet's summer home, Dandelion Ranch. I love the joy of Roy. You will too."

Poetry
My grandfather,
who can neither
read nor write,
wears a pen-
and-pencil set
in the pocket
of his Sunday coat.

One night
when I was
in the fourth grade,
he watched me
do my homework,
rocking in his chair
by the stove.
"Son," he said
with a smile,
"you've really
got a nice hand,
a real nice hand."

Other People Say
"All of Roy's poems are love poems." Paulette Myers-Rich, artist book maker and publisher of Roy's book Love Poetry

"He is the pastor of the street poets. He is the John Coltrane, the Miles Davis of poetry, The Love Supreme of poetry." Kevin O'Rourke, writer

"This is fantastically funky." Chuck Olsen, media maestro

"A beautiful piece: so Roy-like, with circularities and humor and rhythms and open faces and good humor." Margaret Hasse, poet

"Roy McBride has always been one of my f

A Poet Poets: Roy McBride is a 2007 drama with a runtime of 25 minutes.