I admit that Zaneta Varnado Johns' collection of poems, Poetic Forecast, is personal to me. Though some of the people she honors are not known to me, through her words I am connected; journeying beyond my own experiences that began when the two of us were bright-eyed freshmen at the University of Colorado, where we sought to, in her words, "make it." Zan's words pay tribute to the unheralded Black pioneers in her life: her parents, her siblings, her confidants, her loved ones, her children. She writes of love, of loss, of longing, of regret, of memory, of hope. Her tempo, conversational and melodic, weaves a gentle tapestry, drawing us into her understanding of the universe and her place in it.
In reading Zan's words, I am reminded of "His Eye is on the Sparrow," the classic hymn, published in 1905: "Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home? His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." In 2020, the world encountered COVID-19 and massive global uprisings. We are living in the midst of dramatic change, moving into a world that even the most insightful could not have predicted. Who we were is being revealed. Who we are is in flux. Who we will be is yet to be written. But in looking back, Zan and the sparrows remind us not to worry over what appears as lack or limitation, for the supply has been abundant. And that worry is one of the most useless and non-productive pastimes we can engage in. Zan and the sparrows teach us that there is no force in the universe more powerful than love. In Zaneta Varnado Johns' Poetic Forecast, she sings because she is happy. She sings because she is free.
James Michael Brodie, Published Author and Respected Journalist
Poetic Forecast is filled with stories of triumph and tribulation, life lessons and thought-provoking calls to action. Life journeys are captured reflecting our human condition, connection to others and the natural world. We are challenged to dream of what is possible and to be our best selves. Zan's poems are timeless and relatable depicting heartfelt family ties and tributes to those who have gone before us. They take us to a place of beauty and serenity engaging all our senses, we are transported, we are there.
Along the way there is a time to be playful and sassy, full of child-like exuberance. Smiles and laughter - the joys of relationship and love. Poignant questions are posed, what kind of world do we see? Are we a part of making it better or standing on the sidelines?
Woven into the fabric of the poems are threads of gratitude and hope inspiring us to have faith, the best is yet to come. In times of reflection, we can reach for these stories and find peace.
Jacci McKenna, retired Executive Director of Human Resources, Eagle County Government
