Lyrics From Lockdown (Bryonn Bain)

Whenever I witness a piece of art that is particularly moving—whether it be a painting, a play, or a song—I get a tingling in my whole body. I'm not sure if I believe in a soul, but in those moments it seems that the commingling of truth and beauty elicits something deeper and more powerful than my mind alone can grasp. Usually poetry doesn't do it for me—I just don't “get it”.

Bryonn Bain, however, gave me shivers more often than any other artist has been able to achieve. The lyrical, musical, and theatrical adventure that is “Lyrics from Lockdown” is a powerpunch of artistic expression that left me stunned and begging for more. Although it is primarily a memoir of his wrongful imprisonment, Bain's poetry also rises above and beyond that narrative. From comical conversations with the devil to existential ponderings on his child's scribbling, Bain is able to turn a simple story into an exposition on the human condition, touching not only our universal desire for freedom and justice, but our search for the beautiful in the ugly, the self in the system, and the divine in the mortal. Such themes are bound to engage any audience, and arouse even the most indifferent stoic. If you have a heart, Bain will reach right past it to your soul. Expect a reawakening.


guest post: by zach benton