In the Days of Our Endurance is the culmination of Nathan Brown's journey through the pandemic, by way of writing commissioned poems for family, friends, fans, and Firepitters. Yes, apparently, that's a word now. This will be the fifth and final collection in the series known as the Pandemic Poems Project.
In the spring of 2020, Nathan's career as a touring live performer of music and poetry quickly went offline. A terrifying side effect of Covid experienced by millions for a plethora of reasons. However, by way of donations from those who commissioned poems, his pocketbook "survived." Somewhat, he might say. And by way of those who tuned into his "Fire Pit Sessions," a livestreaming show on Facebook that he produced for the purpose of reading the commissioned poems for those who were "holed up," he kept his spirit, as a live performer, alive as well. All 200+ episodes are still available to view on his page: https: //www.facebook.com/chinacoman
In the Days of Our Endurance is a departure from the first four books. This book leaves out the dates and years of the poems. And instead it tries to represent our "coming out" from under the cloud of the pandemic. It's concerned with everyone's new questions, worries, and hopes in the face of a new age and new world beyond the dark few years of disease.
These commissioned poems over the years tell the stories of contributors from around the globe-from Saudi Arabia to the Island of Tonga, the Bronx to L.A.-and they track the slow crawl toward some sort of beginning of the end of a brief and bizarre epoch, a great pause in human business-as-usual.
Brown says, "Few things have affected more how I perceive myself as an artist, as well as what the artist's purpose is in the scope of history. I've been humbled and inspired at the same time. And I have discovered that audience is more than appreciation... it is participation in art."
Video readings of these poems can be viewed in the Fire Pit Sessions on his Facebook page:
https: //www.facebook.com/chinacoman