No Rain in the Desert by Robert A. Stubblefield is the follow-up poetry collection of “Written in Blood” (our review here).
As in the first collection, Written in Blood, Robert Stubblefield speaks on a wide spectrum of topics. In “No rain in the Desert” the author speaks on love, lust, dreams, and socio-political issues, he calls for change and is quick to remind people of who he is. He seeks to encourage and inspire change with his words. These poems touched my heart, and others really made me stop and think.
This book, however, takes on a different tone from Written In Blood (our review here) , the first book. Here, the author turns his eye inwardly, to the Black Community, and calls for action and pleas for them to remember their ancestry and to become more.
The first poem begins with a remembrance of someone gone too soon, and gives way to others that grow in depth, hint at the tragedy that has marred the author’s life, and the lives of those he loves dearly. “For Queen Nia Wilson” and “Letter to My Daughter” are just two poems in this collection that shine a light on the tragedy of loss that seems so unfair and shows how it damages those it impacts.
Like in the last collection by the same author, some poems are short and sweet, while others make you feel the pain in his words and feel the desire to see things be made right. There are poems here that are a little complex and you’ll have to dig a little deeper to truly understand.
There are several poems dedicated to lust, love, romance, and dreams. The book’s blurb, gave the impression that there would probably few of these poems, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were more in comparison to the first. “Black Rose“, “Canvas“, “Seeing You“, and “Star Union” are some of my favourites. They speak about the lust, passion love and adoration Robert Stubblefield has for the woman that has captured his heart and attention.
Robert Stubblefield makes a point of identifying the racism that runs rampant in America. How little has changed no matter how much people want to say it has. Or how much we wish that we could say “progress has been made.” But the author also acknowledges that racism isn’t just here, but it is global/worldwide and impacts so many around the world. The poems – “Anti Blackness is Global“, “Back to Those Days“, and “Afrikan in Amerikkka” are just a few of the poems that illustrate the author’s thoughts.
Brace yourself though for the poems that will tear at your heart. The poems that bring the truth into the light and ask the questions – “how much more?” “How much longer?” “When will change come?” “When will enough be enough?” The poem “For Trayvon Martin“, took me back to that horrid day when the news broke of this young boy’s killing. The author cries out for justice because in that case, all we had was injustice. “Enough (Jacksonville Reprise)” will leave your heart hurting as one specific question is repeated again and again throughout it. That poem was one that was easier to see where the author was going. It is no less heartbreaking to read each line and see each one give a new revelation.
Most of the poems in this book are free-flowing. Only a few have stanzas that actually rhyme together which made them even more enjoyable and definitely interesting. Once again, there were some that I didn’t fully enjoy or understand, but not everything will appeal to everyone, and that’s totally fine.
I encourage you to read the first book, and venture deeper into the author’s words with THIS collection of poetry that will speak to and inspire you.
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