First Flight

In his powerful debut, First Flight - Brandon Dottin-Haley, also known as "The 17 Syllable Phoenix", reimagines the haiku, an ancient Japanese poetic form, to share poignant insights that any reader can digest. Specifically referred to as senryu, due the nature of its content and themes (the haiku refers to poems with themes of nature and the elements) - The 17 Syllable Phoenix brings new life to the form, as a modern-day vessel for understanding human nature, truth-telling, healing, and resistance. Each poem in this collection is a compact burst of insight that moves through gratitude, manhood, racism, religion, politics, and Black cultural memory. These 17-syllable pieces pack emotional and intellectual power, challenging readers to feel deeply and reflect honestly.Featuring a Foreword by Grammy-winning, Emmy-nominated poet and spoken word artist, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, First Flight is a meditation on rebirth and remembrance-a poetic flight toward wholeness guided by a firm knowledge of the past. The book version also features reflections and quotes Sunni Patterson, the High Priestess of Poetry in New Orleans.

Brandon Dottin-Haley is a social impact entrepreneur residing between New Orleans, LA and Baltimore, MD. As co-founder of The Dottin-Haley Group, he works with his husband and business partner, Blair Dottin-Haley, to develop educational and entertaining programming. Together, the two have created The #BLAIRISMS lifestyle brand,  the award-winning #SAVAGECHATSERIES, and numerous social justice campaigns focused on Black education, the environment, and community empowerment.