Title: Arms of A Lopsided Tree Author: Shana Yarborough
This tree is perfection. It does not always grow in the path directed, but it is never starved of water. If you look at it from different sides, it may look hard, and tired, and ugly. But if you climb on its branches and sit hugging the trunk, you can feel it dancing and singing—laughter oozing out like sap. If you sit close enough you can hear children begging for storytime. If you sit close enough you can feel
the protection rising from the roots.
"Looking For Love In All The Small Spaces is a small jewel of a book, beautiful in content and appearance. Ms. Yarborough is a young poet with a seasoned touch. Her poems are sensitive and insightful. We should all look forward to more of her work with great anticipation."
Johnnetta B. Cole
President, Bennett College
Former President, Spelman College
A SEAT SAVED
Nobody sits in that chair
‘Cuz it’s filled with pipe smoke
Hard peppermint candy
A toothpick
And a small shot of brandy
‘Cuz it’s filled with war stories
And happy days
Lessons learned
And wise old ways
‘Cuz it’s filled with an old spice smell
A heartfelt love
Humor
And a blessing from above
‘Cuz it’s filled with “dentured” smiles
A winking eye
A poker hand
A soft goodbye
Shana Yarborough has been composing poetry since the age of eight with her first poem dedicated to her "no nonsense" babysitter. Her works have been published in several formats including newsletters, magazines, books, and literary journals, including University of
Baltimore's literary journal, Welter. Yarborough and her debut book of poetry, Looking For Love In All The Small Spaces, have been featured at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers, the Harford Poetry Society, Minas Gallery, D.C's Martin Luther King Jr. 10th Annual Poetry Extravaganza, The Men’s Book Club, D.C. Book Club, Baltimore Book Festival, The Enoch Pratt Free Library, BookExpo America 2005, and many other tour and poetry events.
Yarborough has also been featured on several media formats including 92Q with LaDawn Black; WPGC 95.5 with Todd B. and Justine Love; Countyvibe.com; and the television show, Backstage Pass: Poetic Reflections.
Yarborough was asked to perform a series of poems, which she composed herself, dedicated to prestigious African American painter, Henry Ossawa Tanner at the opening of the Tanner Exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
In 2007, crossing the line between visual and fine art, she published her second book of poetry, Arms of a Lopsided Tree. The book stood vertical, used real pieces of tree for its construction, and is a limited collector’s edition.
Yarborough has a B.A. Degree from Spelman College and a M.F.A. Degree in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband.
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