Thoughts of a Beautiful Mind

The poet El-Sharieff Kirkman has been around people of many different cultures, both rich and poor. After growing up in a place that allowed him to see life at opposite ends of the spectrum, his only way to begin to make sense of it all was to let it out in the form of poetry. Thoughts of a Beautiful Mind is Mr. Kirkman's impressive debut volume of his finest poetry (and sampling of prose) to date. In this volume, Mr. Kirkman reflects on the many reasons why people write poetry to express joy, pain, and love. Some simply write to make a point. In "The Reason I Write Poetry," Mr. Kirkman eloquently describes the impetus for his creative work: "Close my mind, / And open my heart / Pick up a pen, / And begin to start / Expressing my soul, / From the past and the present / Giving you just a touch, / which feels like heaven..." Whether the subject is a child's nightmare, the power of a kiss, an appreciation of writers, the scent of a woman, or an unpleasant night, the poet draws the reader into his very personal, passionate, and frequently intense world. "Everyone has a beat they walk to, talk to, and even work to," the author says. "It's not a song or a tune you hear, but it's something that's always inside of you; your personality." In this generous selection of Mr. Kirkman's verse and prose, his personality shines through every work.