Beard, 83, rolls out 83 poems in new book
In his newest book “Let Reason Roll,” 83-year old poet Elmer Beard presents a collection of 83 poems documenting “race, religion and reflections” of his life over the past four decades.
Beginning with a dedication to his parents and the late Bud Kenny, host of local Wednesday Night Poetry, Beard starts his poetry with a “prayer-logue”; setting the theme for topics discussed in the 82 poems following.
“Dear God,” it starts.
“Thank you for allowing me to surpass the life expectancy for African American men in this country.
“Lord, I thank You for my good sense, my good health and my good looks at this old age.
“Lord, I thank You for my triumphs and trials that filled the blank pages of this book.
“Lord, I thank You for my debut poetry collection while I’m still on this side of Heaven.
“Now, since I must die one day, let me die with a pen in my hand, but not before my next volume of poetry is published.
“As the God of all good and perfect gifts, I thank You for what
You’ve already done and what You will continue to do.
“Father, I ask all these things in the name of Your begotten Son, a Black man named Jesus. “Amen!”
Beard said he hopes people will get a sense of “value, family, hope, entertainment and a revelation” while reading his book and readers will see his ability to “reveal himself” throughout the poems, as he says things they possibly can’t or won’t say.
“I’m not the only one who feels this way about … our (Black) culture,” he said. “You won’t know me with living as far apart as we are, if you don’t have more to read about me. And I have much more to say than I ever get around to saying. Now the poems I’ve written: Four, five, 600, but some of them I don’t (write down).”
In “Let Reason Roll,” there are eight photos of Beard throughout his life with the last present-day photo titled “Speaker of Truth.”
“I want to talk about the speaker of truth. The speaker of truth in poetry feels comfortable in making himself feel comfortable about things that make his audience … feel uncomfortable. If I tell the truth and I tell it on myself, I believe I am setting the stage or helping society to be honest and open and progressive,” he said.
“We don’t like being uncomfortable, you and I don’t, but when we have testimonies and confessions that reveal our weaknesses, we’re making measurable progress.”
While this is Beard’s second published book, it’s his first published poetry book.
“My daughter tells me there will be a third one because I’ll be 84 next month and this writing keeps me healthy because I can so immediately respond and reply to the need for a piece of poetry from experiences; from what I’ve learned from people,” he said. “I don’t get a chance to put all of these writings in ink because the muse speaks to me through the day, and sometimes through the night, and I can see and feel the need for four, eight,
10, 12, 2,400 poems that I may never get to put in ink. Poets do that. We can’t stop.”
“Let Reason Roll” is available on multiple online platforms, but Beard said he will give the book to any locals in return for a donation to Arkansas Baptist College. He can be reached at
501-624-6866.