8 Poems to Remind You of Your Power
I’m often transported back to my childhood, when I would sit in front of my Granny’s bookshelf. It was so tall and I was so small. I could only reach the first 3 shelves and soon found that I was reading the same books over and over again due to my height. I know she put the children’s books on the bottom shelf for me, but I wanted to explore the world beyond If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. With every inch I gained, I gained new perspective of the world. I would pull down philosophy books and autobiographies — whose contents I didn’t fully understand. There was something about these words that were mysteries to me that encouraged me to keep reading and exploring.
I think the words of others have always inspired me, and maybe that’s why I’m such an avid book junkie. It could be the other way around, I’ve got a love for reading because others words have always inspired me. Whatever or whoever it was that made me the reader that I am, I’m thankful for those whose words continue to move me and inspire me deeply. I’ve listed some of them here.
Why 8 poems? It’s August, the 8th month. I wish there were 8 days in the week so I could have another weekend day between Saturday and Sunday. 8 is the number of times I teared up while watching the music video for Brown Skin Girl (ugh, the representation)! Not sure why I picked eight poems, I honestly could have picked more. Here’s the thing, sometimes I forget how powerful I am, and I’m sure this is not an anomaly of an occurrence. The poems listed below remind us that we are worth it, we are beautiful, we are unique, and we are amazing.
8. On always being there for yourself
You, my Love, my Darling ~ are so loved.
You are what you have been seeking and it is now that you must learn this.
You will fix you.
You will save you.
You will be your comfort and refuge and home - unwaveringly and dependably.
Trust there is no greater gift.
This is not you settling on letting go of what you truly deserve.
This is you coming home to the heaven God promised you.
Trust, I’ll get us there. I’m not leaving.
~ Ashlea Faith, 2019
7. The Checklist
“Happiness is not a checklist.” ~ Beau Taplin, The Checklist
Happinness is not a checklist.
A dream job,
a fast car,
even the love of another,
will mean nothing at all
if you have not yet found a way
to feel full and content
in your own
mind and heart.
6. On finding the light again
love the darkest parts
of yourself.
it is the best way to get the light’s attention.
~ JH Hard, 2020
5. An excerpt from Milk and Honey
if you were born with
the weakness to fall
you were born with
the strength to rise
-rupi kaur, Milk and Honey
4. An excerpt from Becoming a Wildflower
Fall,
as many times as it takes;
because you will always rise
with the nectar of flowers in your hair
and some kind of sweet faith
in your bones.
(you will always rise stronger.)
-April Green, Becoming a Wildflower
3. Ode to mouth
“i lift my tongue one night
& the white dots are light deposits
& the moon falls out mouth like cold milk
& my face so black in the dark room it is blue
& my face be the evening sky —
holding mouth/ holding moon”
~ Sojourner Ahebee, Reporting from the Belly of the Night
2. On floating
Just keep floating.
On your back like Mama taught you.
Maybe refrain from thinking too hard or long about anything that you’re not directly experiencing.
Let it come to you, and when it does, sit with it.
For right now, you are a listener -- not one who summons.
Let the conscious self go.
Trust that the water carrying you is You.
You -- your most ancient, and knowing, and of God-Self.
It is carrying you where you need to go. Let it.
~ Ashlea Faith, 2019
1. a love note
“It’s your life, and you must never forget this.” ~ April Green, 2020
please find the courage
to live the life you want
because, it is your life.
(and you must never forget this)
Some of these poets, I’ve had the pleasure of exchanging beautiful words with and I always leave with a new perspective on life. Some of these poets, I’ve found via the world of social media. They’ve all got widely different backgrounds, life experiences, and dispositions. But the two things that they have in common are:
They’re human
They’re inspiring
I hope these poems help to heal and prosper you as they have done me. Catch you on the next blog!
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Yours Truly and Truly Me,
