Phillip Berrian

Valdosta Daily Times

January 10, 2012

Valdosta poet publishes book

Dean Poling

The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA -- Like many poets, Phillip Berrian is a seeker.

He seeks truths from the world and the spirit. He looks for meaning in all things great and small.

In his poem, "They Call Me a Nomad," Berrian expresses in a few well-constructed lines his journey of perseverance which has helped him through life "but with God's love and anointing on my life, I can surely show people time and time again, that I can reach the stars any day or night."

In his new book, "The Testimony of Greatness," the award-winning Berrian explores themes of love and loss, spirit and redemption. He uses relevant Bible passages to open poems.

Berrian was born in New York City, one of 10 siblings. His parents are Pastor Mary L. Berrian and the late Charles Berrian. Living in Valdosta, he is a Valdosta State University student.

Poetry defines his life.

"To me, poetry was a spiritual and God-given gift," Berrian notes. "... The stories, messages and the meaningful concept in this book is mostly about overcoming challenges, obstacles, and giving God all of the well-deserved glory and the highest praise ..."

The Times conducted an email interview with Berrian.

THE TIMES: Are the poems collected in "The Testimony of Greatness" recent or do they represent a sampling of your work from years past to the present?

PHILLIP BERRIAN: "To answer this question, it's a collaboration of both old and new and, yes, my work is for sure the sampling from both the past and the present."

THE TIMES: What inspired you to start writing poetry? What continues to inspire you?

PHILLIP BERRIAN: "What inspired me to write poetry, beside the Lord Jesus Christ because only through him is (there) glory, but life as a whole. Because life itself is the greatest teacher meaning it does not give you answers of why and how things occur or happened, but it allows you to think and be aware of everything that goes on around you. And what continues to inspire me to write is yet again having the passion and the gift for it as well as being taught every day by life challenges and journey. Because life as we all know is filled with so many unexpected expectations, and like the character of Forrest Gump who made it perfectly (clear) when he said, that life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get. And as life being the greatest teacher you go as you learn."

THE TIMES: Many of your poems open with Bible verses. Does the verse inspire the poem? Or do you use a relevant biblical passage once the poem has been written?

PHILLIP BERRIAN: "Yes, it does because the biblical passage opens up to the readers of what the poem itself is truly all about and, does it inspire the poem itself, yes it does. And do I use relevant biblical passages once my poem has been written occasionally ... it really depends on the content and the title of the poem."

THE TIMES: What is the importance of poetry in your life? How do you think poems can affect readers' lives?

PHILLIP BERRIAN: "The important poetry in my life is the poem which I wrote called 'They Call Me A Nomad' and what a nomad is are a group of people who are constantly moving from place to place, and they continue to stumble across many obstacles, but like a group of ants, they constantly press on. ... We are all like nomads. ... The way that poems can affect other people, it really depends on the concept, the mood and the expression, giving them something that they can relate to."

THE TIMES: Your poetry sounds like it would be as enjoyable to hear as it is to read it, do you ever give public readings of your poems?

PHILLIP BERRIAN: "No, I am more of a writer who allows those who enjoy poetry a chance to not only read what is written, but to allow them to think as well as see the vision which is being presented to them. I just like providing the material not reading it, because I know what it means, but I try to allow other readers to read the poem for themselves, to get a clear picture and understanding of what the author's points of views are."

http://www.spreaker.com/user/positivepower21/replay-first-show-for-2015-berrian_1?sp_redirected=true

The Author's Biography

My name is Mr. Phillip Berrian. I was born on February 10, 1976 in Brooklyn, New York at Kings County Hospital. I now reside in Valdosta, Georgia, in the Hudson Docket Projects. I have five brothers and four sisters, where out of the fruit baskets of apples I went and graduated from Kingsborough Community College and earned my Associates degree in Arts and Sciences. My parents are Pastor Mary L. Berrian and my late great departed father, Mr. Charlie Berrian who made that transition on over into the spiritual and afterlife world, wherefore I know that he is looking down upon me with that heavenly smile. I am an author/poet who has written 20 books. My first to be published, which is so needed today, especially regarding what is actually occurring right before our eyes, is entitled "The Testimonial of One's True Greatness." It is available in eBook and hardcover and you can find it on Amazon and my self-publishing company of Infinity Publishing on www.buybooksontheweb.com and wherever online books are sold.

To give a little summary about myself, my ambitions and the God given talents that only He Himself could give and bestow, let me clearly say that poetry to me was a spiritually anointed, as well as a God given gift. I've earned the highest honors and respect, such as participating in several online poetry contests, where I received two Editor's Choice Awards from the International Library of Poetry from 2005 and 2007. My other poems were acknowledged, and got much buzz from the Famous Poets Society, where I received award-winning plaques with official gold seals of excellence from the top head Chiefs and Editors. I was also presented the gold seal certificate of excellence, and another well talked about poem was listed in the Celebrate-Created Communication POETS SPEAK OUT 2007 with a poem titled "A MAN."

Furthermore, a collection of my other poems was listed and acknowledged in the weekly Brooklyn College school newspaper. I was also blessed to receive another Editor's Choice Award, which was my third one from World Poetry Movement for Outstanding Contributions to Poetry. And in August of 2011 I was also featured on two online poetry blog websites, poetrycrazy.com and voices.net.com where a couple of my written poems had been displayed. On top of that achievement, I was also presented with the blue honorary ribbon for just about every written poem of mine that was featured. I was then awarded a Certificate of Publication with a gold seal of Achievements, from World Poetry Movement, which was the same online contest that had recently presented unto me The Best Poets and Poems of 2012 Award.

That was another blessing which was highly bestowed upon me as yet again another accomplishment. And in April 2012 during The National Poetry Month, I was also given

by both the Awards Chairman and the Chief Editor from The National Poetry Month Committee the Prestige Great Poets Across America Award Certificate with the United States seal logo.

http://www.ascensionartists.com/spirituality.html

http://www.amazon.com/Testimonial-Ones-Greatness-Phillip-Berrian/dp/0741496593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422121351&sr=8-1&keywords=phillip+berrian

http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-9659-3

Book Summary

The Lord Himself is continually blessing me right here, as well as right now.

And I have said it once, and will now say it faithfully and once more again.

That without a touching and compelling healing story, one wouldn't be able to tell others of the grace, and the goodness of God's ultimate and testimonial glory.

These stories, and the uplifting messages behind the concept and the meaning of this book, are mostly about overcoming tough challenges, obstacles and giving God all of the well deserved glory and the highest praise. That's because He inhabits the praises of us, His people, and the positive encouraging words of wisdom. We Christian believers do not argue the grade of one's life as the ending, but look at it as God's master plan, which is only just the beginning. I say to each and every one of you, just let go and let God have His way because He is totally in control, and let your test always become your testimony.