It was a good day to have a conversation with a soft-spoken poet. The evening air was mild — just right for an outdoor chat at Dobbin Center in Columbia, Maryland.
Adron E. Dozat was the subject. For years he wrote a blog designed to comfort others, but recently he took a leap of faith by publishing his first book of poetry called Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.
He agreed to sit down with the Guilford Gazette for an exclusive insight into the man and his work.
Dozat wrote the book, according to him, not expecting to earn much from the sale of the book, but he wrote it anyway. He said, “A lot of people struggle and have difficult lives, but wherever they are , there is hope.” That’s his message in a nutshell.
Dozat, who had a tough life growing up, had a violent alcoholic father and a mother who spent some time in a mental institution. There is no doubt that he is a man who understands struggle. Having parents who were not always available, he spent his fair share of time in foster homes on occasion.
He did not come across as bitter. He used his writing as an escape, but he said, “When I became a Christian it became a way of exploring my faith.”
Dozat clearly has a heart for others. He said, “I want people to feel like someone is reaching out to them and holding them as they go through their dark times.” He added, “I want people growing closer to God; closer to Christ.”
Dozat began writing when he was 13 years old. He said that most kids stop writing by age 17, but not him. He wants to continue writing “until God takes me home.”
When asked about his desired outcome for the book, he replied, “I want to know that people are being helped.”
The book has short poems and reads like a daily devotional. Many people shared with Dozat that they read passages in the morning for inspiration. Each poem has a bible verse associated with it. The illustrations, which fit the theme of each poem, were all created by Dozat. He created his own cover art as well.
Adron Dozat is a resident of Columbia, Maryland where he lives with his wife and children. He attends South Columbia Baptist Church in Kings Contrivance in Columbia. To learn more about the author and his book, visit aedozat.com
Get PERKS and Support Community Journalism | SUBSCRIBE