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A Note from the Author

 

My first poems were written during the time I spent teaching the Black Studies courses at The University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colorado. That would have been back in 1978, when I taught Blacks in American Today during the fall semester and Afro-American Heritage during the spring term. I did not start teaching these courses when I was first employed. There were three other black faculty members who shared those duties. However, when all of them left and I saw that there was nobody surfacing on campus to teach them, I notified the appropriate administrators that I would begin teaching them at night on campus beginning in the fall of 1978. So sometime between classes and my primary duties as Director of the International Student Services, I found time to write some original poetry. In order of origin, these poems were: Blackman, balaaak vlshionnn, and Ode to the Jock.
For years these three pieces languished in my files, along with all of my other class notes. But after I established my first Internet domain site [blackscifisoul.com] I decided to add these poems as an adjunct to the book that appeared on the site (Black Science Fiction Soul #1). The three poems stood alone for some time, before I wrote and pasted 13 other poems/essays on the site. Once they were all available to the public as part of the domain site, I had no immediate plans to continue writing either more poems or more essays. It just happened.
I might be in the shower and experience a moment of inspiration. Then upon leaving the shower, I would jot down some notes. Or when driving to town. Out of nowhere, some ideas would unfold, forcing me to pull over, park and write down the words filling my head. Sometimes these notes ended upon a piece of scrap paper...a Kleenex...on the back of an envelope...or in the margins of anything I found handy. This pattern continued for months. On some days there was nothing. On other days, my head would practically explode with ideas; which would keep me busy composing until the feelings passed.
Eventually, my larder of 16 poems/essays became 35. Then  45. Culminating in the 107 pieces that now make up the book. Along the way, I contacted several of my email buddies and requested that they send my anything they would like to see printed in my projected Book of Poems and Essays. None of them responded with either a poem or an essay. Except for, of course, my partner in crime, Carla Barela. All of her submissions appear in the final draft of the book. They are also featured in this domain. Besides this background, I discuss my incentive for completing the book on the fifth page of the final copy.
My deepest emotions are buried within my literary pieces appearing between the covers of Book of Poems and Essays. I can't think of anything I might have omitted. So by reading them, you will get to know {the real} me.
In this domain (#4), you will be blessed with Carla's biographical sketch. But much like my works, some of her deepest revelations are contained in her poems and essays as well.

Click here to read an excerpt from
"Book of Poems and Essays"
From Dr. Elmer W. Wells.

 

 

POST SCRIPT


If you enjoyed anything on this site, you might want to continue to the next website in the series

www.blackscifisoul.net

where you will be introduced to two of the most phenomenal "post-racial" icons ever to grace the covers of a comic book.
In order to whet your appetite, check out the following intro:

PRESENTING: HOOOOOSTEEEN AND SAAANTANNNAAAA !!!

You've no doubt heard of Red Sonja? Then allow me to introduce her mulatto equivalent -Santana!' She, has all of the looks, cunning and bravado you saw in Ladyhawk, Nefertiti Jones and Onyx. The prowess and tenacity of Empress, Jakita Wagner and Natasha Irons. On top of all this, she is as proficient as she is beautiful. Her brother, Hosteen could easily stand toe to toe with Luke Cage, Bushmaster or Falcon. He is as colorful and daring as Black Panther, Black Goliath and The Warlord. Equally impressive, is his uncanny resemblance to Shang-Chi and Iron Fist. Hosteen and Santana are not limited to the confines of America; being as much at home fighting for human rights in Somalia or Yemen as they are in Chicago or Miami. Together,they easily rival the exploits of The Avengers, The Fantastic Four and even The Black Musketeers. Trust me. You are going to love this brother/sister team! The true post-racial Superheroes!
Now, ready or not, In DOmain #5, you will have the privilege of reading the following poems/essays:


BLACK/WHITE BOY

WHITE/BLACK GIRL

THEIR FIRST BATTLE ACT I

THEIR FIRST BATTLE ACT II