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The Daily News

Bogalusa celebrated one of its most luminous treasures Sunday.

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Yusef Komunyaka, whose innate poetic nature was nurtured in local neighborhoods by native folks, went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, among many other distinctions. Last weekend, more than 200 people, a deep and diverse cross-section of the community, welcomed him home.

The enthusiastic turnout was well-deserved and justly met. It is a rare opportunity when a small, rural city can claim an artist of such caliber. It is only right that he should be held up as an example, a ray of hope, a teacher.

Komunyakaa has said that people should challenge themselves, and that they should not be afraid of being pleasantly surprised. That philosophy has obviously worked well for him. He continues to create, express, inspect and achieve.

The poet also said he would be interested in coming back to Bogalusa to teach a class or workshop. Perfect. The spirit expands. The family comes full circle.

Everybody has the ability to shine. Now it is Komunyakaa's turn to nurture. The time is right. He is ready. The community is eager. The radiance is building.