My City September 2021

Brown's husband is also a musician and he made an Arborlune™ (musical instrument) from fallen tree branches in their yard which he strung like a harp. "We perform concerts together," Brown shares. "James composes music for my theatrical poetry productions and accom panies me during poetry readings, using the Arborlune or other instruments." Currently, Brown is writing a book about looking at water from a spiritual and social level, which she hopes to finish by the end of the summer. The book examines the varied things water means to us, she says. "Many do not see the fundamental oneness between ourselves and water. Human bodies are 60-70 percent water. That would seem to make us walking, talking rivers con tained in a suitcase of skin and bones!" Brown enjoys her role as Flint's Poet Laureate and she and James will con tinue to serve the community they love. "We bleed for Flint. We put all of our time and resources into Flint,” Brown states. “We stay because we want to be here. Our hearts are for Flint." t

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