Words to My Life’s Song

The legendary Ashley Bryan—painter, poet, storyteller extraordinaire, resident of Little Cranberry Island, Maine, who wintered in Sugarland, Texas, with family—left the planet gently February 4, 2022, at the age of 98. Thankfully, his dozens of books survive him and will continue to bring joy to millions of readers. I recommend Words to My Life’s Song because Bryan tells the beautiful story of his own life, as he does in his last book, Infinite Hope, which records his grueling experiences in World War II. But all his books are treasures. This one focuses on finding, discovering, becoming who we are. Bryan loved random found objects, beach glass, and bits and pieces. From some of these objects, he made puppets and stained-glass windows. He felt poetry emanating from scraps, light, and the tiniest revelations, and being in his presence was a rush of fresh air. He urged children to create their “own home libraries”! (His spoken sentences all had exclamation points at the ends.) I once saw him receive standing ovations from college students, elementary school kids, and a whole bookstore of community members, all in the same day. He was tireless, funny, and perpetually welcoming to crowds of children who visited him on his island. To consider a world without him is simply impossible, so perhaps we might conjure his presence twice as much by talking even more about his books, paintings, love for poetry and Black poets wherever we can. The Ashley Bryan Center will continue in his Maine home. Please support it: visit it and spread the word!