Biography

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Virginia State University, Virginia, United States
Dr. Latorial Faison is an award-winning African American poet, author, professor, veteran military spouse, and mother born in Southampton County, VA. She’s authored & edited 16 books, including Nursery Rhymes in Black, Blood at the Root, Mother to Son, Love Poems, 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History, I-III & The Missed Education of the Negro. Faison completed undergraduate & graduate studies in English at UVA and VA TECH; she completed doctoral studies in Education at VA State University. Faison's been published in Callaloo, Obsidian, PRAIRIE SCHOONER, Artemis Journal, West Trestle Review, RHINO, Southern Poetry Anthology, About Place Journal, Southern Women's Review, Deep South Magazine, Chickenbones, AUNT CHLOE, and elsewhere. Dr. Faison is a recipient of fellowships from VA Humanities, Furious Flower Poetry Center, and AWP. She's won the Tom Howard Poetry Prize and ranked finalist for CAVE CANEM and Louise Bogan Poetry Prizes. Faison's been published alongside Iyanla Vanzant, Danny Glover & Dr. Cornel West in the NAACP Image Award-winner, Keeping the Faith. She's Assistant Professor of English and Chair of Languages and Literature at VA State University.

Monday, November 21, 2022

Be Thankful




















Be Thankful

A Poem of Thanksgiving by Latorial Faison

Every now & then when life will allow
Recall the years in silence from birth ‘til now.

The elders prepared a place & helped to pave our way.
Now with our hearts & hands, we curate & save the day.

The past is full of memories, fared well & not so well,
Yet be ever grateful that we’re alive just to tell,

Of all the wonder years, all the people, all the smiles,
Days filled with love & laughter even across the miles. 

For every little triumph, be glad you made it through,
The ins & outs, joys & pains, the good works in life to do.

Be thankful for it all, to have lived life honest & true,
To have given of yourself, every single arc & hue.

Every now & then, when this life allows,
Stand still & pay homage to the voices & the vows.

In your heart be ever mindful of this universal joy,
The light we shine, the love we give: the grace of God’s employ.


Copyrighted (c) October, 2022 Latorial Faison

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