In Remembrance: Dennis Brutus, South African Poet

South African poet and activist Dennis Brutus died in his sleep December 26, 2009. He had been suffering from prostate cancer. He was 85.

He's a poet whose name is linked with anti-apartheid and Nelson Mandela, even being imprisoned alongside Mandela in the 60s.

Poets like Brutus strike me as necessary poets. His life tells me that poetry can truly find urgency in the most personally or socially-defining times. To commit poetry to the domain or mere expression of the aesthetic, in my estimation, does the art a severe disservice. The origins of poetry are of necessity, of cultural survival, of social and spiritual utility. I love seeing poetry taken off the wall of mere spectatorship, and find itself in someone's hands.[/soapbox]

Brutus was also part of the effort that led to South Africa's prohibition from Olympic competition in the 60s.

His his work has been banned in South Africa for years, though "Thoughts Abroad" managed to slip through under his pseudynom John Bruin.

In the 1970s, Brutus immigrated to the United States and taught at Northwestern University and the University of Pittsburgh.

For some reason, I want to call Brutus a real poet. I don't know what that all means, but hats off to his legacy of, in act and word, championing the cause of unity and justice for people and the earth. He dedicated his life to fighting against division and corruption, and that alone is, to me, a life worth living.

Sources: LATimes.com, Stuff.co.nz
Photo Citation: Stuff.co.nz

You may comment on this post here.. Remember, you have to be registered on the community to comment!