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New Beginnings On The Endz - Donna Parkinson
New Beginnings On The Endz
Donna Parkinson
ISBN: 9781906439392
Mad Jock Publishers
Reviewed By Wendy Paulson
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
"A cacophony of social concern,
Lessons to learn,
Bridges to burn,
And minds to turn,
A change is what's needed,
Hatred too deeply seeded,
Understand,
Because I overstand,
And demand,
That together we stand."
Lessons to learn,
Bridges to burn,
And minds to turn,
A change is what's needed,
Hatred too deeply seeded,
Understand,
Because I overstand,
And demand,
That together we stand."
So opens the follow up effort to her debut collection, A Different Perspective, in which Donna Parkinson continues her growing legacy of poetic excellence. In New Beginnings On The Endz, Parkinson tackles the worsening issue of urban youth violence head-on, providing the reader with insightful, timely, and often biting commentary on the contemporary state of life in underprivileged communities. Her skilled use of poetics is on point, and her delivery – as always – is impeccable.
For example, Parkinson grants the reader a piercing look into the mindset of a youngster trapped within the throes of thug life in this passage from "My hood":
"Held captive by my lifestyle,
And my police file,
I grew into crime,
Never drew the line,
And became what my mother despised…"
And in this passage from the equally revealing "Evil seeds":
"Soldiers of Hades,
These useless maybes,
They continue to spread their word,
The results are absurd,
The worlds [sic] gone mad,
The outcome is bad,
We have lost that, which we never had…"
She delves even more deeply into the self-destructive psychology of countless urban youth in passages such as this one from "Making history":
"I realise,
As I close my eyes,
I am dying in the name of my hood,
And finally I understood,
That I made me who I be,
No one to blame 'cept me."
And in this passage from "In too deep":
"I done things I can't adjust,
Skeletons I am unable to trust,
I made money off of death,
Watched them all take their last breath,
I even laughed out loud,
At the shocked crowd,
Cos they didn't do a thing,
I wore the ghetto king ring…"
Such insights are vital to understanding what drives an individual to commit such unspeakable acts, and it is most regrettable that the light of such revelation all too often shines too late in the minds of those who need it most.
All is not lost for the youth of today, though, and Parkinson aptly displays for the reader that, for every negative seed planted in their minds, positive fruit can still be borne. Consider, for example, this uplifting passage from "Today was a good day":
"Today was a good day,
I turned away,
Had the final say,
Over my destiny,
Didn't let the street take the best of me,
Cos I was out,
It was all about,
Free-Dom…"
And, in this passage from "Heed my words," Parkinson makes a most impassioned plea for emotional and spiritual peace:
"Don't live by the gun,
You'll die by it too,
Don't let your life be run,
By what your peers do,
Live in peace,
Don't be enslaved by greed,
Let gun and knife crime cease,
Too many streets already bleed."
New Beginnings On The Endz provides the reader with a panoramic overview of issues that are all too often ignored by the mainstream; however, if our own futures are to be served best by the actions of our present, we must invest wholly in the growth, development – and ultimate flourishing – of our youth. As such, New Beginnings On The Endz is an invaluable starting point for just such a task, and one that needs to be read and discussed in high schools, church youth groups, and community centers all over the globe. Highly recommended.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Donna Parkinson (New Beginnings On The Endz)
Apex Reviews: Donna, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to learning more about your new poetry collection.
Donna Parkinson: Thanks for having me again. It's a pleasure to be here.
AR: Please share more with us about what specifically inspired you to compile a collection centred primarily on the ongoing plague of youth violence?
DP: It's something that is just close to my heart as a mother of a soon-to-be 13 year-old. It's scary enough watching your "little girl" grow into a teenager without the added pressure of knowing there are kids out there killing each other at the drop of a hat. This year, in London alone, 28 youngsters have died through gun- and knife-related attacks. I just feel that it's time for the youths and us parents to take control of the situation and start making changes in our communities.
AR: Do you have any personal experience with the types of incidents & personalities that you write about in the book?
DP: Yes, I do. Having grown up on a rough council estate in North West London, I have felt firsthand the unbelievable pain associated with losing someone to gun crime. I personally know at least 4 people that have been lost to this type of violence, 2 of which were very, very close to our family. Unfortunately, incidents and personalities of these types are commonplace in some areas, and before long the people get accustomed to that way of life, and things just don't seem to surprise you anymore. I think people become desensitized to a certain extent, and that's what seems to have happened to our communities over the last few years. This type of behaviour has become less shocking, and in some ways our society has adapted to the fact that urban violence is fast becoming a way of life.
AR: How did you come up with the title?
DP: Actually, I have a wonderful friend named Nikhil Rathore to thank for that. We spent a lunchtime at work trying to come up with an apt name for this book. I knew what I wanted the title to portray, but I just couldn't find the perfect words; I toyed with quite a few titles, but as soon as Nikhil said "New beginnings on the endz" - I just knew it was right, and that's when I penned the title poem.
AR: What specific suggestions do you have to stemming the swelling tide of urban youth violence?
DP: Wow, that's a very hard question to answer, and I can only give my opinions. I don't have all the answers; I just know that we need a change. But, for what it's worth, I think that we parents need to take more responsibility for educating our kids to the dangers out there. We should be guiding and encouraging our offspring into becoming responsible adults and leading by example. We need to bring back that control element that was present when I was a kid; my parents only had to look at me for me to know that I had overstepped the mark. There seems to be a blatant lack of respect from our youths these days, and we need to find a way to bring that back and have it resonate throughout the younger society. Our children need more options, youth centres run by people who the kids can relate to where they can channel their energy into something positive. Like I said, I don't know all the answers, but I do know that too many kids have already died, and if we as a community don't do something about it urban youth violence will continue to spiral out of control, and our kids' futures will be mapped through a path of self destruction.
AR: Please share more with our readers about the moving tribute that you included to "Tubby T"? What's your personal connection to him?
DP: Well, we grew up with Anthony. He was always in our house as a kid; back then there was a strong community bond between families that, again, seems to have disappeared over the years. It just felt like the right forum to air a tribute to someone from my endz….R.I.P Tubby.
AR: You use creative, innovative rhyme schemes in all of your poetic pieces. What has helped you to develop your signature writing style?
DP: I wasn't aware that I had a signature style; it all just comes out that way. My writing is always reflection of how I feel about something…I just tell it like I see it. Sometimes that offends people, and sometimes it doesn't.
AR: We noticed that you've recently gained a special stage name. Please share more with our readers about the emergence of "D'Persona."
DP: Again, a lunchtime discussion. I was doing my first poetry performance, and I didn't want to just go on stage and say, "Hi, I'm Donna Parkinson." I wanted something a little more edgy, and so the debate ensued, and D'Persona emerged the victor. In fact, my 3rd book is called "D'Personally yours"…look out for that in 2009!!!
AR: What kinds of reactions have readers had to this latest collection?
DP: So far, I have had only good reactions. I would like to try and get this book into some youth clubs and perhaps schools to initiate some sort of programme or workshop to raise awareness of the destruction that guns and knives brings to our communities.
AR: Where can our readers learn more about you and your writing efforts?
DP: realtalk@dpersona.co.uk
AR: Also, how can they contact you directly?
DP: dpersona@live.co.uk
AR: What's next for you?
DP: My 3rd poetry book is actually written, but I will wait awhile before releasing it. My novel is a good 3rd of the way through, too, so I have other projects in the pipeline, but I think they can wait until 2009 now.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
DP: I'd just like to stress that gun and knife crime is a very real issue in our communities these days, and one that needs to be tackled head on. Thanks for reading.
AR: Thanks again, Donna, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!