Singular notes: self-published writers share the limelight.

Publishing, unfortunately, can be considered a competitive sport. Far more writers than publishing houses are in the world. As an editor for Black Issues Book Review, two publishers and a journal, I can personally attest to the hundreds of submissions editors consider on a weekly or monthly basis. It is a testament to the power and diversity of black creativity. It is also, from an editor's view, sometimes daunting.

It is important to remember the early works of Amiri Baraka, Dudley Randall, Sonia Sanchez and other poets who became saddle-stitched, cardstock-covered missiles made by hand at the local copy shop or printer. These giants didn't have the luxury of computer software and multiple font sizes. This didn't inhibit Haki R. Madhubuti (formerly Don L. Lee) from selling more than 50,000 copies of his first book, Don't Cry, Scream, in 1969.

BIBR is proud to continue its support of self-published authors by including this roundup of the most engaging poetry books we've recently received. Most of the titles are available online. Enjoy!

37 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou House of Nehesi Publishers, July 2005 $15, ISBN 0-913-44174-0

During his stay in China, as a fellow at Asia's first International Writers Workshop, Sekou penned this collection of poems. As the title indicates, 37 poems are included with one suite. Most of the pieces are concise with themes that are not clearly spelled out by the language. Each poem has drive and invites the reader to explore the subject at hand.

I am One Blessed Poet by Michelle "Shelly" Rankins Michelle Bankins, September 2005 $10, ISBN 0-977-14400-3

The title of this book is somewhat deceiving. The collection opens with visually and contextually rich lines that introduce the reader to "Shelly," who proclaims, "I am a poet 24 hours deep." "The Belle of U Street" is an even-tempered piece, and the book, as a whole, expresses sisterhood and femininity. The book contains two sets of haiku (to girlfriends and sexiness), which are very refreshing takes on the form. Rankins also includes creative nonfiction pieces and persona poems that deal with her relationships with the women in her family.

Let a New Woman Rise: Contemporary Poetry by Barbara Haskins, 4465 Press May 2005, $13.95, ISBN1-411-63003-3

Haskins's inspirational book of poetry suggest the historical and emotional evolution of the African American woman. In "Fire Arise," the first section, many of the poems aim to ignite a fire in the reader. With allusions to universally accepted pillars of strength, such as Sojourner Truth and Rosa Parks, each poem calls the black community to action so that the black woman can be restored to glory. In the second half, "Love Arise," Haskins identifies many contemporary social ills attacking these as intraracism or crime because such obstacles stand in the way of self-love.

My Soul Is Not for Sale: Various Poems of Love Inspiration. and Revolution by Vaughn T. Aiken BookSurge, LLC, 2005 $9.99, ISBN 1-419-60135-0

This is a slim volume dedicated to love, family, racial strife and politics. The tone of the book is set with the poem "My World Without You." In this verse, Aiken offers a portrayal of a man who has experienced loss. This is evident in the lines "I guess I have to put on my clown face / So I seem happy, but inside I cry." He acknowledges the superficial decisions he must make, but he also addresses the internal struggle that his choices force on him.

Pearls From the Soul: A Collection of Poems With Commentary by Mignon Renae Spencer Dante's Publishing, June 2005 $14.99, ISBN 0-976-38710-7

Spencer uses prose to explore a certain situation, and then counters that exploration in poetic verse. In her thematic presentation, she also touches on issues such as older woman/younger man relationships and deception. Her concept is very contemporary and experimental.

Truth for Truth Seekers by A. T. Classic Monarch Trails Publications, June 2005 $27, ISBN 0-961-66651-X

Drawing from religion and theological references, the author writes his poems in a meter that relies heavily on the oral tradition. In return, the reader can use his or her aural instincts to receive the messages that come from concepts of spirituality. The author engages various issues prevalent in society with the understanding that divine revelation comes in many forms. A CD is included.

Unconditional Love by A.M. Peabody Solomon Books, Incorporated, March 2005 $14.95, ISBN 0-976-59971-6 It is the story, written in verse, of a young woman who abandons the only home she knows to reinvent herself and embrace her inner woman.

The Univer-Soul Language: Vol. 1 by Monica Hill, Sharia Kharif, Jacole Kitchen, Cedric Mixon and Heather Smith Kobalt Books, August 2005 $13.95, ISBN 0-975-43571-X

This volume features the work of five authors of various ethnicities and backgrounds, who not only craft poetry, but also craft "soul speak" Their work is more concerned with those unifying themes to which everyone can relate.

Unleashed Poems About Family, Fight, Inspiration and Motivation by Andre D. Williams Publish America, March 2005 $14, ISBN 1-413-76575-0

Williams's poems range from his ponderings on his own family dynamics to his reflections on the basic human desire to be loved. Each poem treats the theme of family, inspiration or motivation, and many poems in the book begin with the author's own personal experiences, which reveal how he learned to heal and grow.

Whispers: Poems of the Soul by Keyon Marshall Written in Stone Publishing, December 2005 $12.95, ISBN 0-976-96913-0

A collection written in persona poems illuminates the complexities of male-female relationships and the impact of race and gender on self-discovery,

The Words of a Little Black Country Girl by Shayla M. Herndon AuthorHouse, May 2005 $24.95, ISBN 1-420-83907-1

The poems in Sterling Brown's Southern Road sung of the human condition in the South. Zora Neale Hurston's one-woman crusade to chronicle the Southern idiom gave this country an endearing legacy of vernacular and folklore.

Herndon takes her cue from such giants, and her book of poetry is a bold push by this young author to assert her poetic voice. Herndon revels in her "Southerness" as she writes, "I don't find anything negative about / my southern roots. I like my accent / my values, my style and palette for greasy foods."

The volume is lengthy (five chapters); however, the reader is provided an introspective look through the author's pen with an underlining motif of spirituality.

Yazoo City Blues by Thomas L. Gayton Drury Lane Press, November 2005 $14.95, ISBN 0-963-84122-X

This collection of poetry and prose is dedicated to Yazoo City, Mississippi. In this expression of the black experience, Gayton pays tribute to Yazoo City culture and its influence on his being.

You Don't Know Me by Orville Lloyd Douglas TSAR Publications, April 2005 $16.95, ISBN 1-894-77022-6

Sometimes humorous and often outspoken, Douglas poetically shares his thoughts on the issues and journeys that comprise his life and those of other gay, black men.

Compiled by Caprice Banks, Chanell Harris, Randall Horton, Michael Hunter, Constance Rihani, A. Tacuma Roeback and Latiffany Wright, all graduate students in the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Chicago State University.