Poetry as Mirror and Lifeline | Birmingham News

Birmingham AL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 30, 2026 · 1m

Poet Ashley M. Jones, Alabama’s first Black Poet Laureate, unveils her powerful new book “What the Mirror Said”—a raw, accessible blend of memoir, essays, and conversation that invites readers into her world and redefines poetry as essential, healing, and deeply communal. Drawing from eight influential Black women poets like Gwendolyn Brooks and Audre Lorde, Jones frames poetry as a mirror that reveals hidden truths and sparks transformation. She argues that poetry isn’t a luxury—it’s a survival tool and a force for change, especially vital in a world silencing too many voices. Through bold…