Te Deum: Lessons

Te Deum: Lessons is a written version of a beautiful collaboration with Te Deum of Kansas City, MO. Founder Mathew Christopher Shepard created a beautiful concert based in the Anglican Nine Lessons and I have composed eight poems in response to those lessons from a non-Christian, Black feminist perspective.

FROM THE INTRODUCTION
As I created the works I have included in this chapbook, I allowed all of my beliefs to collide. My feminism led me, my activism jogged right beside and my deep love of humanity propelled this project. Matthew only had to wheel me in a few times on a line or two that occurred overly exotic and I was filled with joy to be able to laugh about it and come to an understanding. Lessons is a reminder that we can and should pause for the sacred season, be reminded of our humanity and all its flaws and failures but also to be renewed by the sacred belief in renewal and redemption. With this project, we focused on eight of the nine lessons with a the aligned scripture for each of the poems written. Please accept this offering of love, of the grappling with faith that has led me to this sacred moment with each of you. All the poems here were created with and for this wonderful collaboration with Te Deum, Lessons and Carols for Today, and for that, I am eternally grateful!