I think if you were to ask anyone in the world what they think of the city, anyone who has not been to Detroit, they would likely have something negative to say. That’s because most of the national news about Detroit is negative. It’s a tough city and it is going through yet another tough time. With that there is plenty of unfavorable news. What’s hard to report on when it comes to Detroit are things much less tangible, but no less apparent, in my opinion. There is a strength within the city that you can feel when you visit. You see it in the people and the buildings and you can feel it as you walk around the city. As you get to know the city more and more you really begin to understand why there are so many people who live there and love it and won’t ever give up on it.
I bought an amaryllis a few weeks ago and it is sitting across from me near a window. It’s just an ugly brown bulb sticking out of the dirt. It is beginning to show a little life but it is by no means pretty. However, I know with a little care it will bloom. Somewhere in that ugly, almost dead-looking bulb, is a lot of potential and beauty. Detroit is like that. Most of the time you can’t see it, but it’s there. It will bloom again, I really believe that.
This summer one of Detroit’s best known poets, David Blair, died. I was reading an article about him that linked to a video of him reciting his poem, Detroit (While I Was Away). It’s a beautiful poem that expresses so powerfully why he loves Detroit and why so many love Detroit.
Detroit (While I was away)
Chris and I spent all day Sunday in Detroit. I didn’t have my camera but I did manage to snap a few iphone pictures. Here is a glimpse of Detroit in iphonography.
Thanks for the photos and the video!
I “Dugg” it and will share it on my facebook too.
Here is the Digg link: http://digg.com/news/offbeat/detroit_while_i_was_there
Got to know your work when you kindly sent me pictures of Michelle Obama when she was here for fundraiser. REALLY enjoy getting your mailings! You are incredibly talented! Love your work. Thanks for including me.
Gorgeous and resonant, as always, Anne. I spent a good part of my life in Detroit and watched it go from one of our country’s jewels to a hulking shell of a once-great city. I wrote about it here: http://ramonasvoices.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-requiem-for-detroit.html
and here: http://ramonasvoices.blogspot.com/2011/08/poor-old-detroit-who-is-going-to-save.html
I loved the David Blair video. I think I might have met him once when I was a part of the Detroit Literary scene, and after watching that video I’m crushed that he’s no longer able to be there. I could relate so deeply to how he felt.
(BTW, I’m having problems going back to make “repairs” on this comment. I can only go forward and not back. There is a black band around it that disappears when I hold my mouse outside the comment field. Very strange.)