Martin Luther King Jr. inspires Macon poet

In his poetry, he has a dream.

It happens almost every time he reaches to shake hands and introduce himself.

Or if someone asks for him by name on the phone, when it is called out in a crowded restaurant or standing in line at the post office.

James Brown.

It's a show-stopping, head-turning, I-Feel-Good (I knew that I would) kind of name.

Some folks laugh and ask him to sing.

Brown can laugh about it, too, even though he's had this same gig for 56 years now.

Sorry, no karaoke today.

But he will gladly read a poem.

He would rather be known as the "Troubadour of East Macon" than the late, great "Godfather of Soul," who recorded his first two hit records -- "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me" -- in Macon.

Brown writes poetry at a desk near the front window of his home in Shurlington. He pens poems of gratitude, motivation and spiritual guidance. There are odes to heroes and laments to the stark realities of drug intervention, hurricanes and terrorist attacks.

He has been asked to recite them in classrooms, at weddings, graduations and anniversaries. He has read them at birthdays of friends and funerals of neighbors.

Four years ago, he published a book, "Poetic Experiences of Life." He likes to think of himself as a modern-day Langston Hughes. One day, he dreams of winning the Pulitzer Prize.

"Words are like wheels," he said. "They will take you anywhere you want to go."

He has lived in Macon for much of his life. Well, actually two Macons. The first was in Macon County. He grew up one of 10 children. He was the oldest son and named after his father. His mother, Mattie Brown, worked at Southern Frozen Foods in Montezuma to put food on the family table.

After graduating from Macon County High School in 1978, he served in the Army. He lived in Atlanta before moving to Macon in 1992. He married his wife, Angela, on Valentine's Day in 2001. Between them, they have five children and five grandchildren.

By day, Brown works at River Edge Behavioral Health. At night, he lifts his pen and pours his heart on paper.

He remembers the first time he heard the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. He was amazed at how a man could open his mouth and sweep such perfect words through the air.

In high school, Brown recited some of the speech when he auditioned for the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in a school play. He did not get the part, but the words stuck with him like a double coat of enamel.

He once wrote a poem called, "Thank You, Dr. King."

Where would we be if we didn't have your dream?

Where would we be if you weren't so brave?

He lauded King for his courage, for taking a stand and never giving up.

When God created you, he made a mighty man

Whose voice was heard all over the land.

He has carried King's message of non-violence with him in his writing pocket. A few months ago, he pulled his words together in a pair of poems he called "Stop the Killing" and "The Movement." They were his reaction to an alarming string of shootings and senseless killings in both the community and across the nation.

There is no longer a value placed on human life. We are held hostage by our fears. It stalks us in our schools, churches and shopping malls.

"We can't even take our families to the movie theater without being afraid," he said.

"We've got to stop this madness."

In the words of the other James Brown ... Please. Please. Please.

Ed Grisamore teaches journalism and creative writing at Stratford Academy in Macon. He can be reached at edgrisamore@gmail.com.

This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Martin Luther King Jr. inspires Macon poet."