Note: We are in the process of moving all our winning poet interviews to the website. Please be sure to bookmark it at yecheilyahsannualpoetrycontest.org/.

Introducing Adariyah Ysrayl

Instagram: @adariyahysrayl

Adariyah, welcome and congratulations!

Please, tell us, what is your name and where are you from?

My Name is Adariyah Ysrayl and I am from Chicago, Illinois.

Beautiful. What does your name mean?

My name “AdariYah ( A- dar- ree- Yah) means to give respect or Adornment to The Most High.

When did you first fall in love with poetry?

I fell in love with poetry in 4th grade. We used to have free time journaling, and I wrote poems outside of drawing as a safe place to express my thoughts and create stories from my reality. I didn’t feel like my voice was heard as a kid, so writing poetry was a great hobby at the time. I loved it so much that I could’ve entered into a contest of writing but unfortunately didn’t from moving so much.

What inspired your poem?

What inspired my poem was I gravitated to the title. My poem is also inspired by my life experiences. This year (2023) was the perfect example of how well I was able to relate to grace.

I love that. In your own words, what is grace?

It means that the way we can extend more grace is by getting to the root of certain situations and understanding that you really never know what a person is experiencing behind closed doors. It means not to take things so personally, and to give ourselves grace is to know everything will not be shiny and beautiful, and when it isn’t, don’t be so hard on yourself.

What are you hoping to achieve with your poetry?

Writing poetry is intimidating in ways. To be that vulnerable and open about yourself, especially to an audience, has caused a bit of anxiety for me. Poetry is one of the intimate forms of writing, and I am very much a student of soaking up information. What I am trying to achieve in poetry is to encourage and communicate to people who are overthinkers. At this time, I am writing again as far as my poetry is concerned.

Where do you see yourself one year from now?

A year from now, I see myself being more in tune with my inner voice, more adventurous, exploring new experiences, and adding new skills to my belt, and this is one of them!

And without further ado, I introduce to you “Grace,” by Adariyah Ysrayl:

The fact The Most High made an executive decision
for me to wake up and breathe.
Overlooking his inhabitants, including me.
Grace is something shown through a glimpse
of what we cannot see.
It is forgiveness minus the strife.
It is something I’m constantly learning how to do
and it’s an ongoing fight.
Before I gave Grace to anyone,
I had to see within myself.
I had to lose myself to gain humility,
and some of my mental health.

My mind got so loud,
and I didn’t know which way to go.
Then my Heavenly Father said to me,
“I’ve always had the navigation of which way you need to go.”
I cried because I knew the destination was right in front of me.
But because I didn’t let Grace lead, I let my ego get the best of me.

I would take two steps forward just to get pushed back three.
That yoke of iron called life would get the best of me.
That is until I finally overcame the battles and pain.

Start giving others and yourself Grace a day
and watch your life change.

Copyright©2023 Adariyah Ysrayl

About this Poet

Adariyah is a Freelance Makeup Artist in the DMV area. She uses her creative skills to help people feel confident and provides a safe space for people anticipating a special event or moment. Adariyah is committed to helping her clients feel beautiful so they can “stand on business.” She is a mother and wife and hopes her brand will help others to see the beauty within themselves. She currently lives in Delaware.

Note: We are in the process of moving all our winning poet interviews to the website. Please be sure to bookmark it at yecheilyahsannualpoetrycontest.org/.

Introducing Samuel Olopade

Instagram: @_olops_

Samuel, welcome and congratulations!

Please, tell us, what is your name and where are you from?

My name is Olopade Samuel, im from Lagos, Nigeria.

Nigeria in the housee!! When did you first fall in love with poetry?

Poetry/writing had always been my sort of remedy. Growing up with a speech impediment made me value writing as the best way to express myself when words failed me.

What inspired your poem?

You know the saying, “You don’t know what you have till you lose it?” It’s synonymous with “You don’t know what you really want till you have it.” I see Grace in the same light. Being from dark places or places of just basic wants, the same wants everybody’s after, but then you find you’re getting things in an unparalleled manner. I see that as Grace. Basically, it’s an unparalleled favor.

In your own words, what is Grace?

Unparalleled favor, lol.

Lol. In what ways can we extend more grace in our own lives and in the lives of others?

In understanding, we’re all in similar races, on different fronts, but in the same cycle. As a volunteer and a fervent altruist, I believe in giving. Someone somewhere needs that unparalleled favor to get to the point they really need to be at, and you never know who your act of kindness could affect via a series of chain reactions you’re not even aware of.

What are you hoping to achieve with your poetry?

I am hoping to be a voice for the voiceless, a way to express and share feelings and emotions that are not easily seen.

A voice for the voiceless. I like that. Where do you see yourself one year from now?

I see myself thanking the past me for not giving up.

Now that’s a poet thing to say! I love it.

And without further ado, I introduce to you “Grace,” by Samule Olopade

In the crucible of pain, we find our Grace,
A journey from the depths to a higher place.
From sorrow’s grip, we rise to happiness’s embrace,
A transformation beyond what words can trace.

Beyond physical exertion, it’s the strength of soul,
Grace, like a river, making wounded hearts whole.
In every stumble, in every broken pace,
Grace is the warmth of a loving, forgiving space.

Accepting our shortcomings, embracing them with love,
We find Grace showered from the heavens above.
In this masterpiece of life, we all play a part,
Grace, the melody that harmonizes every heart.

So let Grace be the bridge that carries us through,
From pain to happiness, from old to the new.
In this tapestry of life, a wondrous embrace,
Grace binds us all with love’s enduring Grace.

In the realm of Grace, we find our way,
Where kindness and love forever sway.
A gentle touch, a whispered word,
In Grace’s embrace, our hearts are stirred.

Through trials and storms, we often roam,
Yet Grace is the light that guides us home.
It’s the hand that lifts us when we fall,
The sweetest voice, a comforting call.

In Grace, forgiveness finds its place,
A healing balm, a warm embrace.
For in our flaws and in our fears,
Grace dries our tears and calms our tears.

It’s the beauty of a sunset’s hue,
A gift of love from me to you.
In Grace’s dance, we all take part,
Uniting every soul and heart.

So let us cherish Grace’s art,
A masterpiece from the very start.
In kindness, love, and blessings too,
Grace shines on all, both me and you.

Copyright©2023 Samuel Olopade

About this Poet

I’m Olopade Samuel, a proud Nigerian volunteer, engineer, and upcoming politician. As far as I recall, my whole life involved humanitarian activities with clubs like the Red Cross, Rotary, and Lions Club. My interests lie in observing nature, human advocacy, and wishful thinking to be a better artist. My life goal is to be that person others look up to, that model person who rises above stereotypes.

Note: We are in the process of moving all our winning poet interviews to the website. Please be sure to bookmark it at yecheilyahsannualpoetrycontest.org/.

Introducing S.R. Graham

Instagram: @thesensualgenius

S.R., welcome and congratulations!

Please, tell us, what is your name and where are you from?

My name is Shakeitha Graham. I am from Salters, South Carolina.

When did you first fall in love with poetry?

I first wrote poetry when I had to write a poem as an assignment in my first-grade class. I didn’t know much about poems, but I’d write them occasionally without really understanding what I was doing. I never thought I was good at writing them until I started posting my poems on social media and getting compliments on them. I first fell in love with poetry when I went to college and started learning about it extensively. That was when I was exposed to more black poets like W.E.B Dubois, Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison, and James Baldwin.

Excellent! Tell us, what inspired your poem?

I used to be a perfectionist, so I would give myself a hard time about everything. I always wanted things to be perfect or I wasn’t able to recognize the value in it. I’ve grown from perfectionism a lot, but I still have my moments when I am hard on myself. It has always been easier for me to extend grace to others than it is for me to do it for myself. That’s what inspired my poem.

I can relate to that! In your own words, what is Grace?

Grace is the empathy and compassion we have for ourselves and others even when we fall short. It’s the space we hold for the imperfection within us since we are human.

In what ways can we extend more grace in our own lives and in the lives of others?

We can extend more grace in our own lives by recognizing our inner critic as the young version of us that doesn’t approve of the things we may be doing in the present. We should nurture that inner child and help it to understand that we are no longer in that stage of our lives. We can extend more grace to others by being more understanding and not judging them based off our values and principles.

Well said! What are you hoping to achieve with your poetry?

I am hoping to inspire people to feel the hard emotions when they read my poetry. I also hope to make people feel seen, heard, and felt.

Where do you see yourself one year from now?

One year from now, I see myself being an established poet and performing spoken word poetry on small and big stages.

I believe it!

And without further ado, I introduce to you “What I Lack,” by S.R. Graham

I offer it to those who pluck sin from between their teeth,
and pass down trauma like family recipes.
I offer it to those whose chests are desolate like coal mines,
but their eyes are brightly lit when love comes with a prize.
I offer it to those who take pain religiously, like daily vitamins,
but still implement hope and faith in their regimens.
I offer it to those who serve destruction as a three-course meal,
and make friends with drugs because they’re too afraid to feel.
I offer it to those who are at odds with life.
They are the ones that need it most
because their intrusive thoughts hold them hostage with a knife.
I offer it to the ones who are addicted to the light,
even though they pull foolish stunts
to remain in the public’s sight.

I offer it to women who wear their burdens
like pearls around their necks.
The ones who hide from their reflections
to dodge the secrets they want to forget.
I offer it to men who are spoon-fed large helpings of responsibilities
but are always thought of last when we are serving reciprocity.
I offer it to children who are forced into adulthood too soon.
Their inner beauty is sometimes stagnant
like butterflies who aren’t ready to leave their cocoon.
I’d offer it to the tired eyes looking back at me in the mirror,
but sometimes my vision is too cloudy to see the value in me clear.

So, I give offerings of grace to those whose sins are severe,
hoping that what I lack rewards its adherer.

Written by S.R. Graham, Copyright©2023

About this Poet

Image Copyright©2023 S.R. Graham

S. R. Graham was born in October 1990 in South Carolina, where she still lives. She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and English attained at Southern New Hampshire University. She is a versatile writer, creating anything from poetry to novels and novellas. She is the author of the Two Monogamous series and the Pretty Privilege series. You can visit her website at srgraham.org to learn more about her and find all her works in one place. S. R. Graham is also a podcaster, a cosplayer, an advocate for sickle cell disease, and a sickle cell warrior.