Speak and Be Your Truth

Songbird on my Shoulder attests to one woman’s journey to fathom and surmount life’s adversities. Provocative and disconcerting, youthful and mature, Ms. Robinson’s collection of poetry addresses her views on loving, politics, abortion, religion, abuse, desperation, erotica, aging, Alzheimer’s, family relationships and spiritual transformation. Tracing back from her youth to present, she constantly questions life’s fatigue and struggles. Ms. Robinson takes you on a chronological passage through her first 29 years of living with an inner city echo of questioning in “Past the Miles” –with an unpredictable voice into her adulthood with “Across the Skies” - and a sophisticated tenor through middle age and AARP membership with “Into the Valley.” Filled with thought provoking reactions, her spin on things can make you agree or disagree, but allows you to identify the life’s stressors that face her on a daily basis. Her Epic poem, “The Abortion or TJ Jiffy” invokes the mother’s and baby’s influence, the procedure and the aftermath. Written during a time abortion was illegal, the subject matter still evokes strong responses 40 years later. Addressing taboo topics, Ms. Robinson invites you to suspend judgment and listen to what you may not want to hear. By listening, empathy and self-acceptance can be discovered and the healing process can begin. Ms. Robinson uses her poetry to work through her own personal demons and asks you to tap lightly onto yours, while searching and reaching for poetic and personal justice.

Lori Jean Robinson has been in the arts and disabilities field her entire life. She’s been a dancer, choreographer, speaker, administrator, teacher, comedian, song writer, musician, story teller and a compassionate humane being. Her motto is “live to create and create to live.” She resides in Sacramento County, has been married for 30 years and has multiple 4-legged children of various species.