Dear Spoken Word

Dear Spoken Word, you had me at first listen, 

When readnex took the stage 

At J. Watson Bailey Middle School 

Their voices a chorus, 

a harmony of energy and freedom 

echoing long after the mic went silent 

I could feel the passion 

Flowing like a river straight from their hearts

Their words left imprints on my memory 

Illuminated In my mind like constellations in there night sky 

Then my peers took the stage 

shedding their fears like old skin 

watching them bare their souls, 

I saw a glimpse of my own voice- 

buried, waiting to rise 

But fear held me hostage- 

Palms sweating, heart racing 

I convinced myself I didn’t belong, 

Let hesitation steal what could have been love 

Dear Spoken Word, 

You awakened a fire in me, 

took my mind to places 

even world travelers dream of 

You showed me the power of words- 

I just took too long to listen 

I wish I hadn’t run, 

had kept you close, even from afar 

I needed you too help me 

lift the weight I stacked

on my own shoulders 

Drowning in an ocean of despair, 

I reached for healing in unexpected places-

learning to breathe, to release, to unmask the wounds

Adversity you shook me- 

but in the wreckage, 

you woke the poet inside 

The fire in my voice,  

Reveals the years of silent pain  

when I write, I’m unapologetically me 

The page never tells me to quiet down, 

it listens, welcomes my words 

No matter how intense they might be 

Now, I dive deep into the waters of my backstory

like a treasure hunter unearthing the gold

I never knew I had 

Dear Spoken Word, I think I found the treasure and it is you

I remember the first time I share a piece publicly 

it was perfectly imperfect 

Adrenaline rushed through me.

my body moving, my soul floating

writing this poem sharpened my vision- 

I saw my dream in 4K 

colors I’d never known

words sweet as candy 

the rustle of pages, my favorite lofi track 

and still, the nervousness lingers,

Even now, I get nervous to share you with the world.

My heart races with the hunger to perform, yet trembles with the fear of being seen,

to risk silence over applause,

To speak into echoes that may not answer

Spoken Word, you’ve held the heart cries of millions- 

and I am one of them 

Thank you for reminding me 

that my voice is worthy of being heard 

You are more than performance art 

You are my voice, my sanctuary, The heartbeat of all I leave unspoken