Rivers, Conrad Kent 1933–1968

Black American poet.

Rivers is not only a world traveler but a word-traveler too. His craft is that of poet. He "knew love at twelve" and "caught the long boat." He's at home with his people, hoping that their gods dance and eat cornbread from a wooden spoon….

Bodies pass on but words endure. Even though Rivers didn't have a long runway, his plane was able to lift off and it will always be in flight, dropping a still voice in Harlem and on the Southside of Chicago.