**First Flight** *(Paperback Edition)*
**By Brandon Dottin-Haley — the 17 Syllable Phoenix**
*With reflections from Vanessa Williams and Sunni Patterson*
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Seventeen syllables. Limitless truth.
In *First Flight*, Brandon Dottin-Haley—also known as the 17 Syllable Phoenix—takes us on a poetic journey of rebirth, healing, and radical honesty. This debut collection of **senryu** offers short, sharp reflections on grief, love, manhood, mental health, Blackness, faith, and personal transformation.
Each poem is a flash of insight, a breath of clarity, a flame of resistance.
With a powerful foreword by Grammy-nominated artist **Tarriona "Tank" Ball**, and deeply moving reflections from legendary actress and singer **Vanessa Williams** and acclaimed poet and truth-teller **Sunni Patterson**, *First Flight* becomes more than a book—it becomes a chorus. A testimony. A mirror.
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📖 **Pre-order the paperback edition today**
📅 Ships on **October 1, 2025**
This is a book for anyone who’s ever had to rise from the ashes—and everyone learning how to soar.
#SoulfulSenryu #FirstFlight #17SyllablePhoenix #BlackPoetryMatters