Aberjhani

Goodreads Author


Born
Savannah , The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences
"Everyone is influenced by everybody but you bring it down home the wa ...more

Member Since
July 2007

URL


Long-time advocate of principles and programs associated with PEN American Center and the Academy of American Poets. My newest books are: These Black and Blue Red Zone Days, Greeting Flannery O'Connor at the Back Door of My Mind, and Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah. Other titles include: Songs from the Black Skylark zPed Music Player, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry, Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black; and THE RIVER OF WINGED DREAMS. In addition,the year 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of ELEMENTAL The Power of Illuminated Love with the artist Luther E. Vann.

My work as a visual artist can be found at: https://pixels.com/profiles/posteredc...

I'm currently working on several importa
...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Aberjhani For me the best thing about being a writer is the way it has helped me to grow as a creative human spiritual being.
Aberjhani I don't believe I have ever had writer's block, probably because I tend to read a lot of different kinds of literature that often inspires me. But als…moreI don't believe I have ever had writer's block, probably because I tend to read a lot of different kinds of literature that often inspires me. But also because I've always had to balance writing with other obligations and am always eager to immerse myself as fully as possible in the writing when the allotted block of time arrives. Otherwise, I scribble a lot of notes in preparation for that time. (less)
Average rating: 4.3 · 186 ratings · 36 reviews · 26 distinct works
Encyclopedia of the Harlem ...

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4.38 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2003 — 3 editions
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The Bridge of Silver Wings

4.40 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2007 — 6 editions
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The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois

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4.64 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2003 — 6 editions
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I Made My Boy Out of Poetry

4.58 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 1998 — 4 editions
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The River of Winged Dreams

3.86 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions
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Elemental: The Power of Ill...

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4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2008
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Visions of a Skylark Dresse...

4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012 — 6 editions
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The American Poet Who Went ...

4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2008 — 3 editions
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Christmas When Music Almost...

4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2007 — 6 editions
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Journey through the Power o...

3.14 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014
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Aberjhani’s Recent Updates

Aberjhani wrote a new blog post

Kamala Harris and Women Leaders around the World (part 1): Balanced Representation and Preferred Myths

What will it mean if citizens of the United States of America, in November 2024, elect Kamala D. Harris as the first female president in the country’ Read more of this blog post »
Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah by Aberjhani
“Opposites reconcile by affirming their separate equally-valid expressions of a single essence. Recognizing this [becomes] one way to claim peace in an otherwise tumultuous world.”
Aberjhani
Aberjhani liked a quote
Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah by Aberjhani
“Opposites reconcile by affirming their separate equally-valid expressions of a single essence. Recognizing this [becomes] one way to claim peace in an otherwise tumultuous world.”
Aberjhani
Aberjhani shared a quote
Splendid Literarium by Aberjhani
“Sociologically, politically, psychologically, spiritually, it was never enough for James Baldwin to categorize himself as one thing or the other: not just black, not just sexual, not just American, nor even just as a world-class literary artist. He embraced the whole of life the way the sun’s gravitational passion embraces everything from the smallest wandering comet to the largest looming planet.”
Aberjhani
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Aberjhani is currently reading
Simulated Realities by Dr. Jerry Washington
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Songs from the Black Skylark zPed Music Player  by Aberjhani
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Richard Richard marked as as-you-wishlist The Poetry of Pablo Neruda
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These Black and Blue Red Zone Days (eBook Edition) by Aberjhani
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Quotes by Aberjhani  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)
“If with all your power
you kissed the angel of love,
what then might happen?”
Aberjhani, The River of Winged Dreams

“We knew how to combine our strengths in order to overcome our weaknesses, and how to live off faith when nothing else was available.”
Aberjhani, Greeting Flannery O'Connor at the Back Door of My Mind

“Naked flights of art unshackled and incandescent songs of poetry undiluted return to the soul what hate, ignorance, fear, and violence steal from the heart.”
Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays

137521 Q&A with Aberjhani — 22 members — last activity Jul 03, 2014 11:34PM
Goodreads Author Aberjhani will be available June 30 – July 3, 2014 to answer questions.
233 ¡ POETRY ! — 22568 members — last activity 14 hours, 1 min ago
No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read ...more
195 A Place for Poets — 455 members — last activity May 15, 2021 10:36AM
This group is for those who believe in the cross-cultural necessity and permanence of poetry. Share and discuss your favourite poets and the writing p ...more
359 Creative Souls — 404 members — last activity Feb 08, 2019 05:45PM
A place for creative souls to share the books that move us.. Creative, passionate people that feel the need to create art, in any medium. All welcome.
2613 Authors Society — 668 members — last activity Sep 28, 2024 04:11AM
This group is for writers to plug their books. It is also for readers who are searching for new books to read. Come join us!
2706 A New Earth — 242 members — last activity Jul 26, 2013 04:49AM
This group is for Eckhart Tolle's, A New Earth. Join us for some fun conversation, thinking out loud about whatever comes to mind, and enlightening bo ...more
6593 Excelling Authors — 1702 members — last activity Oct 22, 2022 01:10AM
Excelling Authors welcomes all authors and non-authors to this group. Founded in 2008, by Dee Dee M. Scott, Excelling Authors was created with the adv ...more
229 On Reading Graphic Novels — 1798 members — last activity Aug 21, 2024 04:19PM
Let's talk about the wide array of graphic novels and which ones you enjoy reading. Maybe you like reading memoirs in the graphic format like Brooklyn ...more
220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 266867 members — last activity 0 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
10 World Peace — 485 members — last activity Sep 10, 2017 12:29PM
May Peace Prevail on Earth.LOVE it or leave it but don't destroy it. ...more
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Comments (showing 7-56)    post a comment »

Aberjhani After hanging around a lot of talented visual artists for quite a few years, I suppose it was just a matter of time before I tried my hand at creating some art of my own:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/p...


Aberjhani Hello Everyone--

I tried sending friends a message to share a new quote in honor of National Poetry Month but for some reason I couldn't. So those who might be interested in checking it out can do so at this url:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7581...


Aberjhani Thank you to the folks who so kindly suggested questions for the DARE TO LOVE YOURSELF quiz. I felt like 10 was probably the most we should go with (as we did with the previous quizzes) for this platform. So here they are just in time for Poem in Your Pocket Day 2015 #pocketpoem :

https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/111...


Aberjhani As promised, if you're into the inspiring poets, artists, novelists,musicians, educators, entertainers and leaders that make the Harlem Renaissance such an unforgettable event you can check out the new quiz on it right here:

https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/111...


Aberjhani So you may have seen where we added a quiz on Goodreads for ELEMENTAL The Power of Illuminated Love. That one turned out so well that we're working on one for Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance that should be posted very soon.


Aberjhani National Poetry Month 2015 has turned out to be a very busy one. Fortunately my interview with the editors of Poetry Life & times was done just before things turned hectic. If you haven't had a chance to check it out you can do so at this url:

http://www.artvilla.com/plt/poetry-li...

They also published one of my more recent poems here:
http://www.artvilla.com/plt/rainbow-s...

Enjoy.


message 50: by John

John Hi Aberjhani,

Thanks for your kind comments regarding my music. I have a passion both for music and for writing. (I guess you could say I'm schizophrenic.) Right now I'm concentrating on writing (I haven't touched a keyboard in a year.) But next year I hope to focus a little more on music.

I enjoy your prose and poetry. You have a great gift!

--John


message 49: by Richard

Richard Thank you for your kind comment. I have always had trouble concentrating on one area, as many people do in their studies. I think that knowing a little bit about many different subjects makes life much more interesting!


Aberjhani Thank you to the Goodreads staff for hosting the book giveaway competition for Journey through the Power of the Rainbow Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry and also to everyone who signed up for a copy. We could not accommodate every single request but I am happy to congratulate those who won. There's talk about putting out a hardback gift edition so maybe there will be another giveaway as well. Thank you again. In addition, the paperback is now available through Amazon and other outlets.


message 47: by Nouf

Nouf Alfadl Thank you Aberjhani for sharing some quotes :)


message 45: by Richard

Richard That last quote was a good one. Thanks! :)


Aberjhani Richard wrote: "Aberjhani, Thank you for accepting the friend request!"

Likewise Richard--Thank you for the gracious invite.


message 43: by Richard

Richard Aberjhani, Thank you for accepting the friend request!


message 42: by Liane

Liane Spicer Author-Poet, greetings from the Caribbean! Thank you for the Goodreads connection, and looking forward to your reviews and recommendations!


Aberjhani THE HOUR OF PRESIDENTS AND POETS



The poetic eloquence that some of U.S. President Barack Obama’s critics viewed as a major weakness in 2008 is now widely acknowledge in 2009 as a principle strength. Couple that with the controversy that overboiled in regard to poet Elizabeth Alexander’s inauguraton poem, Praise Song for the Day, and it would appear that poetry is taking on a new and elevated status in the global cultural village. That having been said, it was my own honor recently to enjoy an interview chat with poet, author, and playwright Vanessa Richardson. Please allow me to invite you to enjoy it at this url: http://thecertainones.blogspot.com/20...


Also, I haven’t had a chance to chat with inauguraton poet Elizabeth Alexander just yet but you can find my review of book, Body of Life, right here–– url: http://authorsden.com/visit/viewartic...

Aberjhani




message 40: by E.A.

E.A. What a wonderful trailer, so inspiring. Thanks for the invite.


Heavenlypeachgarden Happy 2009 to you


message 38: by Chase

Chase Von Aberjhani,

Hey Brother, and good to connect with you here as well:) I was thinking, you still have an interview open to do with Judy you know:)

Hope you can find the time

Love and light to you brother

And thanks for the connect here also

Chase Von:)

PS

I'm still finding my way around here, so I want to see if this works:)

Chase Von Interview's Aberjhani

http://thesop.org/index.php?article=8606



Heavenlypeachgarden Dear Poet
Have a great all Hallows
best wishes to your family

http://www.whisperscastle.com/PageFNS...


message 36: by Michele

Michele thank you that book sounds cool Michele


message 35: by Michele

Michele thanks


message 34: by Michele

Michele Cool picture and thanks for the ad, Michele Marchetti
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/mich...
http://myspace.com/discoverytoysmichelem
Looking for pt/ft help nationwide


message 33: by Aberjhani (last edited Mar 09, 2008 09:34PM)

Aberjhani A REVIEW WORTH READING

As the author of several novels, including “Margaret and David: A Love Story,” and the brand new memoir “Misdemeanors and Felonies,” Louisiana writer Jerry Bolton is someone who knows more than a little about worthwhile literature. Therefore, his review of the novel Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World is one not to be missed at:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewa...



message 32: by Kelly

Kelly Moran I just wanted to say thanks for the interest in my book. New author here just trying to spead word! THANKS!!!
Kelly Moran
http://home.wi.rr.com/kellymoran
XXXOOO


message 31: by Jeremy

Jeremy I want to apologize for the all the recommendations from me yesterday. I wanted to share the Stoker Award news, and I only pressed the send button once--I'm not sure what happened to create so many messages. Some weird glitch.

Argh...this is terrible...

Again, I'm very sorry.

-Jeremy


Heavenlypeachgarden HAPPY NEW YEAR!


message 29: by Jeremy

Jeremy Here’s wishing you a nifty New Year filled with noiseless noses, neato nicknames, noble Nebraskans, gnarly narcoleptic nebulas, and novel novels about nut-eating narwhals and novercaphobic gnats.

-Jeremy :)

P.S.—I’m currently offering autographed/personally-inscribed copies of my novel, Vacation, with free shipping for those in the US. If there’s anything you could do to help me spread the word about this, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to click here for details:
http://hauntedhousedressing.com/signe...


message 28: by Jeremy

Jeremy Hi Aberjhani!

Here’s wishing you a yippee-filled Yuletime overflowing with yard-long yams, yapping yoyo-yanking yetis, yak-milk yeast-cakes, and yellow yarn-yielding year-end yard-gnomes.

-Jeremy :)


Heavenlypeachgarden I am sorry that you could n ot get the link, thankyou for the book recommendation, here is a song for you

http://www.esnips.com/doc/77626991-82...


message 26: by Heavenlypeachgarden (last edited Aug 25, 2016 10:06PM)

Heavenlypeachgarden Have a great christmas or if you do not celebrate that have a great winter
http://www.banjobunny.com/card...


message 25: by Kaza (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:57PM)

Kaza Great to hear from you!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and are getting some writing time in, too!
Luv, Kaza


message 24: by Jeremy (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:55PM)

Jeremy Thanks for the kind words, Aberjhani. They mean a lot to me.

It sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with the written word. I'm happy to hear it.

Here's wishing you the best in all aspects of your life.

-Jeremy :)


message 23: by Jeremy (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:55PM)

Jeremy Hi Aberjhani!

If you don't mind sharing--I was wondering, what's your favorite book of all time?

Here’s wishing you a weekend filled with wacky whims, wonderful weirdness, and well-disposed werecats.

-Jeremy :)


message 22: by Jeremy (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:53PM)

Jeremy Thanks for the friendship, Aberjhani! Here’s wishing you a fantastic day filled with fabulous fates, fanciful festivities, and frolicking phantom footstools. :)


message 21: by Heavenlypeachgarden (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:50PM)

Heavenlypeachgarden Aberjhani


Thankyou for asking to be my friend here I wish you all the best for this winter I hope you like this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1ujQf...

Jude


message 20: by Patrick (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:43PM)

Patrick Doyle Hello Poet-I-Am. Thanks for adding me as a friend.
I look forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with you.
Have an adventurous day.
~patrick


message 19: by Kim (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:32PM)

Kim Thanks for inviting me to join your friends list. I'm enjoying the community of Goodreads and am being inspired to read even more. I'm slowly getting my bookshelves added and slower yet in adding friends. All in good time...


message 18: by Jo (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:22PM)

Jo Wow! Thanks for the Benton info. I can think of so meny people to share that with. :)Jo


message 17: by Jo (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:15PM)

Jo I am glad to have you on my friend list. I marked your books to read and will get back to you when I read them. I was a government brat, 21 schools, 4 cc, and 2 universities. You beat my record. Also expert at moving and I have been to Harlem in '76. Have a great day:) Jo


message 16: by Heavenlypeachgarden (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:08PM)

Heavenlypeachgarden Thankyou for your message I did enjoy reading it
I hope you are having a great time with reading. family and friends


message 15: by Mahsa (last edited Aug 25, 2016 09:03PM)

Mahsa Hi Aberjhani...Thank you for your comment...You know I saw one of the best profiles in this site, in your page...Yes, most of the Iranian like Rumi and of course Ferdousi, do you know about him and his great book, Shahnameh?...
I love book, this is my best friend in this full of lie world...Would you please advise me some good books?...I love learning new things, so I wanna know, what does your name mean?...My name means "like the moon";)...


message 14: by Amy (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:58PM)

Amy Likewise, Aberjhani -- I look forward to checking out your site!

Cheers,
Amy

p.s. I'm from Stone Mountain!


message 13: by Heavenlypeachgarden (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:58PM)

Heavenlypeachgarden Hello and best wishes thankyou for adding me

Starry
starry night
paint your palette blue and grey

look out on a summer's day
with eyes that know the
darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills
sketch the trees and the daffodils

catch the breeze and the winter chills

in colors on the snowy linen land.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me

how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they did not know how

perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry
starry night
flaming flo'rs that brightly blaze

swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in
Vincent's eyes of China blue.
Colors changing hue
morning fields of amber grain

weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's
loving hand.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me

how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you
but still your love was true

and when no hope was left in sight on that starry
starry night.
You took your life
as lovers often do;
But I could have told you
Vincent
this world was never
meant for one
as beautiful as you.


message 12: by Daniel (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:51PM)

Daniel Poet-I-Am, keep writing and writing and writing and Good luck to you. I'll send you a link to my latest book.


message 11: by Rosemary (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:50PM)

Rosemary Thanks so much for your message and the link to creativethinker (a great site). Though I mainly write novels and sometimes plays, poetry and the visual arts are very important to me as sources of inspiration, peace, and insight.


message 10: by Gavin (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:41PM)

Gavin Thanks for inviting me to be a friend.


message 9: by Adriane (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:29PM)

Adriane “Whatever is to save us must reach beyond countries as well as flesh, across oceans as well as minds. This is why Love is more than a fable: because it actually does these things every single day that life enters and leaves this world." My heart strings have been played a sweet song of love after reading this piece. I will not even try to imagine the sorrow you and their mother had to experience at this loss. The love you have for them shows in the fact that you would think about their lives after pampers, toilet training and ABC's. It is amazing to me, being a mother, that heart reached beyond the point of conception and birth to courageously take a sober look at what the world would offer your girls. I have 4 daughters - 2 biological and 2 inherited but all mine: I would pray that life would allow them to blossom into all they could but even if the world doesn't, love will save them. Thank you for sharing this with me.


message 8: by Adriane (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:26PM)

Adriane You are quite welcome and you are being quite gracious in even referring to me as a writer. I noticed that you have quite a few articles on authorsden, which are some of your favorites? I'd like to read them as well or should I just read them all - Lol!


message 7: by Adriane (last edited Aug 25, 2016 08:25PM)

Adriane "a specifically racist expression of profanity intended to justify the annihilation of a people’s worth" is perhaps the most powerful line of literature that I have read in decades. Bless you for sharing your pain and insight on a time when it was dangerous to even consider doing what you did in true innocence. That word is used so much throughout my family until I am guilty of the fact that it has taken residence in a place within me that bears no pain or thought of shame when hearing or using it. The eye-opener of this piece is far more revealing and demanding of action than most are willing to admit. Thank you for unwrapping a delicate piece of history while enlightening us to make the choice to change the language we embrace and realize that all words are worthy of use. Again, blessings.


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