Dear Me

If you cannot acknowledge changes you need to make in your own life, you cannot demand change to take place in the life of others. If you cannot recognize progression in your own life, you will not recognize progression in the life of others. So (inspired by poet Rudy Francisco), I have put together this list, a letter of sorts to myself. It’s not exactly a poem (yet), but if I had to tell myself about myself, this is the list of 10 things I would advise myself:

• Dear Mind, you’re beautiful. It’s OK to let down some of these walls.

• Dear Hair, we’ve been through a lot together and honestly you used to get on my nerves, but I finally appreciate you, the most beautiful ropes I’ve ever seen.

• Dear Eyes, stop limiting yourself and see beyond what you can see.

• Dear Ears, pay attention. Not with the intent to reply, but with the intent to understand.

• Dear Heart, you dictate my life that much is clear, but like seriously, control yourself.

• Dear Emotions, you take things way too seriously and store them far too deep.

• Dear Hands, the storage place for my thoughts; honestly I like you more than the others.

• Dear Mouth, learn to open in your season and not  a moment before or after that.

• Dear Legs, don’t be afraid to lead.

• Dear Faith, you got roots, but the mountains are still waiting for you to move them. Keep growing.

In Case You Missed It: Top PBS Poems of 2014

I’m excited to do this for you. I was curious as to which poems you liked most and I found these. Feel free to take another read or read for the first time. They are listed in the order of the most views and feedback. I only included those you seemed to really enjoy:

Give Me Life
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/23/give-me-life/
This Hair Will Not Apologize
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/26/this-hair-will-not-apologize/
Never Having Been a Girl
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/26/never-having-been-a-girl/
Diamond in the Ruff
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/28/diamond-in-the-ruff/
Live Words
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/01/live-words-2/
These Women
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/28/these-women/
The Relationship: My Love Affair With Poetry
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/24/the-relationship-my-love-affair-with-poetry/
Un-Pretty
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/11/un-pretty/
Insomnia
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/21/insomnia/
Too Much Truth
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/05/too-much-truth/

The First Time
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/19/the-first-time/
I am
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/03/i-am/
His Birth Pains
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/03/his-birth-pains/
When We Were Colored
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/27/when-we-were-colored/
Cousin
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/26/cousin/
Mr. Black Man
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/30/mr-black-man/
The Unknown Woman
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/03/the-unknown-woman/
Courage
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/17/courage/
Lines
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/23/lines/
Princess
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/30/princess/
Language of the Broken Hearted
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/09/23/language-of-the-broken-hearted/
You Can’t Leave
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/09/29/you-cant-leave/
The Broken Tongue- She Was Not A Poet
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/11/the-broken-tongue-she-was-not-a-poet/
Genuine
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/24/genuine/
Memories
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/01/memories-2/
She Rebels
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/10/she-rebels/
Consequence of a Lonely Heart
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/17/consequence-of-a-lonely-heart/
A Private Symphony
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/14/a-private-symphony/
Dear Poetry
http://atomic-temporary-72317077.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/12/dear-poetry/