Deacon Charles Edwards Peterson Sr-Poet
Charles Edward Peterson, Sr., was born May 9, 1950 to Rosie Lee and Willie Edward Lee Moses Malachi Peterson in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Being the fourth child of seven children, he vividly recalls using his writing as a vehicle to escape into his own world. He wrote poems and short stories in his younger years to express his thoughts, goals, and dreams. And his blue trunk in which he made in his wood shop class, as a freshman in 1964, was the holding place for his creative work and comic books.
After high school, he married his high school sweetheart and fathered three children. After seven years of marriage, Charles was left with three children to raise as a single parent. Anita Shari, Tanisha Charlotte, and Charles Edward, Jr. were his responsibility but with the help from family, friends and the community (THE VILLAGE), he raised three healthy children.
During the early morning hours, Thee Poet wrote extensively and placed his work in his blue trunk. Over the years, his trunk was filled with over one hundred poems and it was at this time he decided to publish his first book The Poet Speaks: Chasing After A Dream in 1993. His first work was dedicated in memory of his beloved daughter, Tanisha Charlotte Peterson, who died minutes after smiling and holding her newborn son, A'mmary, in 1991.
Thee Poet is a civil rights activist, community leader and humanitarian. His community service includes reciting poetry at a correctional facility, Christian youth camps, civic organizations, schools, colleges, and participation in marches for unity awareness and atonement. He is very active in his church as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and male chorus member, (He is also the Layman's President for the Chain Lake District in Mi.).
He proudly holds the rank of black belt in the martial arts and has many trophies proudly displayed from participating in karate tournaments. Thee Poet enjoys playing chess, bid whist, fishing and he is an avid golfer.
Thee Poet's love of Creative writing through his poetry is a reflection of his passion for the written word. Many years later, Thee Poet and his blue trunk has survived many blessings, disappointments, heartaches, and challenges but the poetry written during this fifty-year span is a testament to his faith, his civic awareness and responsibility, humble attitude and spiritual guidance. And Thee Poet has just begun to speak!
Thee Poet is but a voice crying in the wilderness, trying to "Open The Eyes Of The Children of Man Before They Are Harvested By The Minds of Destruction."
