HARRY BROWN

by Kevin Roark

Among the papers hanging on the wall in Harry Brown's office in the English Department at Eastern Kentucky University are three envelopes with his present address on Highway 52 in Paint Lick, Kentucky, sketched boldly across each of them. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Brown moved to Kentucky in 1970. He is married and has two children. In 1989 he had two volumes of poetry published. Volumes One and Three of the Mellen Poetry Series are collections of Harry Brown's poetry. In Volume One; Paint Lick Idyll and Other Poems, as well as Volume Three; Measuring Man and Other Poems, nature appears as a major topic in Brown's works. Among the messages that Brown sends is that of humanity's excessive ignorance of nature and the lack of respect given to nature by humankind.

Professor Brown attempts to educate by displaying the importance of some of nature's overlooked members. In "Peruvian Irish Rationals" which appears in Volume Three, Brown states that the Irish potato originates not in Ireland but rather in Peru where the growing of plants is considered holy. Brown takes another kick at ignorance in "The Closer The Safer, Strangely Enough" which is also from Volume Three. A character named John receives a bruised leg rather than a broken leg by standing close to a bull rather than standing farther away while loading the bull onto a truck. The less the distance between the bull's back leg and the farmer's leg, the less damage will be done if the bull makes contact when he decides to kick. An educator by trade, Brown uses an entertaining venue to educate people.

Modern society moves so fast that nature's beauty is often overlooked. In "In Late Afternoon" from Volume One, Brown finds the beauty in vultures as he views four flying buzzards as mixers of a "thin black stew". Brown's "Grey Fiddler", found in Volume One, points to beauty in the song of a mockingbird that was constructed from the tunes of other birds. The song has the capability of lifting the narrator from the lowest of moods. A Brown poem "Upon The Occasion Of Hearing My Wife Say," from Volume One contains more words in the title than in the body of the poem and sees the purity of feces and the profanity of urbanity. In a world of headlines and condensed information Brown takes a deeper look at nature and thinks twice about what appears obvious, resulting in visions of beauty.

Humanity often rides roughshod over nature for the sake of selfish convenience. Brown's "Havoc" from Volume One takes a second look at a bird usually seen as a pest. That pest plays an important role in nature by helping to spread cedar tree seeds. "Upon A Wood and its Vulgar Perfume" from Volume One of Brown's poetry, takes a closer look at cedar trees and their usefulness. The cedar's outward ragged appearance gives way to useful, beautiful, aromatic, lasting innards. Seldom are cedar trees listed as being recommended as ornamental lawn trees; however when the need for wooden fence posts arises, cedars are often selected. Often bulldozed and bush-hogged away to allow room for fancy homes and fancy subdivisions, those aromatic cedar trees make safe havens for hung or folded fancy clothes. Every part of nature has a useful purpose, and no part should be erased.

The Paint Lick professor is aware of nature's beauty and the importance of even seemingly insignificant parts of it. Harry Brown recently took a summer off from teaching to write three additional collections of poetry and is looking for publishers. He says it is often difficult to get poetry published mainly because poetry is not in demand. With society moving at a fast pace, poetry should be more popular as a short poem can be read quickly. As an ally of nature Brown watches closely, takes notes and looks for deeper meaning. Brown takes what he sees and shares it with others in an attempt to provide some enjoyment, enlightenment and environmental awareness. Brown uses a kicking bull, a singing bird, an edible root, a variety of tree and even manure to help educate and to bring respect to nature. Brown spent a few summers working at a church summer camp. Those summers spent with nature combined with his time spent working on a farm and conversations with other farmers resulted in Brown's appreciation of nature's creatures. A little common sense, a bit of research and reading a poem occasionally can lesson humanity's ignorance of and its nonchalant attitude toward nature.

Brown, Harry Measuring Man and Other Poems. Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

Brown, Harry Paint Lick Idyll And Other Poems. Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

by Vernon Kevin Roark

Measuring Man And Other Poems. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

Paint Lick Idyll And Other Poems. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.