First Flight

In his powerful debut, First Flight - Brandon Dottin-Haley, also known as The 17 Syllable Phoenix, reimagines the haiku, an ancient Japanese poetic form, to share poignant insights that any reader can digest. Specifically referred to as senryu, due the nature of its content and themes (the haiku refers to poems with themes of nature and the elements) - The 17 Syllable Phoenix brings new life to the form, as a modern-day vessel for understanding human nature, truth-telling, healing, and resistance.

Each poem in this collection is a compact burst of insight that moves through gratitude, manhood, racism, religion, politics, and Black cultural memory. These 17-syllable pieces pack emotional and intellectual power, challenging readers to feel deeply and reflect honestly.

Featuring a Foreword by Grammy-winning, Emmy-nominated poet and spoken word artist, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, First Flight is a meditation on rebirth and remembrance-a poetic flight toward wholeness guided by a firm knowledge of the past. The book version also features reflections and quotes Sunni Patterson, the High Priestess of Poetry in New Orleans, and icon of film, screen, theater, platinum selling recording artist and author, Vanessa Williams.