Congratulations to the winners of this year’s poetry contest. We crown you, poetic scholars, for your commitment and dedication to poetic excellence on this 28th day of December 2023.
#1: Chandra T. Mountain
“I’m Living”
@musings.from.my.younger.self
#2: S.R. Graham
“What I Lack”
@thesensualgenius
#3: Samuel Olopade
“Grace”
@ _olops_
#4: Adariyah Ysrayl
“Grace”
@adariyahysrayl
Congratulations!!
And congratulations to everyone who participated! There would be no contest without your support. Keep an eye out for the individual spotlight interviews of each poet and details on Yecheilyah’s Annual Poetry Contest, 2024!
Today, we introduce you to Buddah Desmond, whose poem “Ghosts, Ghostbusting History + Visible / Invisible Lives (Freedom Is Ours)” won first place in our fifth annual poetry contest!
Buddah, Welcome to The PBS Blog!
What is your name, and where are you from?
My name is Buddah Desmond. I’m from the DC Metro Area. Currently reside in Alexandria, VA.
When did you first fall in love with poetry?
For me, it all goes back to music and lyrics. As a lover of music and words, I’ve always homed in on lyrics. Hip Hop was and still is a major influence. I learned early on how powerful words can be… Their impact… How they can move the masses. Songs like:
Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul” and “Follow The Leader”
Salt-N-Pepa’s “Get Up Everybody (Get Up),” “Expression,” and “Blacks’ Magic”
LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells” and “Around The Way Girl”
MC Lyte’s “Cappuccino” and “Poor Georgie”
Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First” and “U.N.I.T.Y.”
Kool Moe Dee’s “How Ya Like Me Now”
Big Daddy Kane’s “Smooth Operator”
Get Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me”
A Tribe Called Quest’s “Award Tour” and “Scenario (Featuring Leaders of the New School)”
Black Sheep’s “The Choice Is Yours”
Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”
De La Soul’s “Me, Myself, and I”
Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power”
2Pac’s “Brenda’s Got a Baby” and “Keep Ya Head Up”
KRS-One’s “Sound of da Police”
Jody Watley & Rakim’s “Friends”
Run DMC’s “Down With The King”
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Thuggish Ruggish Bone”
Outkast’s “Player’s Ball.”
This is a small soundtrack of what inspired my love of not only Hip Hop but poetry as well.
No you didn’t just give us a full playlist!
lol
When I first read your poem, I wrote “Top” on it because I knew it would be among the top five. Like, even if it didn’t win, I knew it would somehow be a winner. So, please tell us, what inspired this piece?
I’ve found that the experiences, stories, voices, and the true history, herstory, and theirstory of Black and Brown people continues to be silenced, censored, and ignored. Far too often, our contributions to history, society, and culture are embraced only when it’s convenient for the powers that be. And when we typically raise our voices, show up, show out, turn up, turn out, and redirect our buying power, that’s when we are blasphemed. Like “How dare they do such a thing?” When all we’re doing is fighting for basic, civil human rights. We’re only visible when they want us to be visible. Like we’re ghosts. When we raise our voices, they ghostbust. And that’s why we fight. Why we must continue fighting for and claiming life, visibility, justice, and freedom. So that’s the inspiration behind my poem.
If you could have lunch with your favorite poet, living or dead, who would it be?
See, that’s not fair. You always get me with these questions. When you have more than one favorite poet, questions like these are always difficult. LOL! How about a luncheon with a panel of our favorite poets instead? LOL!
My answer to this question will probably change depending on the day, lol! If I must choose, I’d say either Maya Angelou or Nikki Giovanni. Can you imagine?!! Not only would the conversation be out of this world, but the food would probably be unforgettable, too.
Awesome. What inspired your writing journey in general?
I started writing short stories around 7 or 8 years old. Song lyrics followed shortly thereafter. But it was hearing Maya Angelou’s poetry recited by Justice, the character Janet Jackson played in John Singleton’s classic film, Poetic Justice, that inspired my poetry writing journey.
Yass. That’s my movie.
I’ve said this before but, Maya Angelou’s poetry moved me in ways that I’m not sure I knew how to comprehend, let alone describe when I first heard it. One thing was certain—I wanted to do what Maya Angelou was doing, with the hopes of being able to write poetry that resonated with others the way Maya Angelou’s poetry resonated with me. She’s a poet’s poet. Her command of the language, her consciousness about the human condition… Her compassionate, soulful writing leaves you with a better understanding of yourself, others, and the world.
Exactly. You hit the nail on the head with the human condition. Maya was all about that.
I already know the answer to this question because you strike me as someone who speaks…you into spoken word?
Yes, I have. Many times. Performing for me, whether it’s poetry or music, is otherworldly. There’s something about it that transcends space and time. It’s like going to a higher place. When I’m really in my element (and not too much in my head), I lose myself in the performance. It’s almost like blacking out but in a good way. There’s nothing on this planet that compares to the experience of performing.
What does freedom mean to you?
I think my best answer to this question comes from a piece that I wrote entitled, “Finding Freedom.”
“Loving yourself and others unconditionally is freedom
Shaking bad habits is freedom
Holding on to your joy through it all is freedom
Standing in your light is freedom
Not being ashamed of your voice, your story,
and where you came from is freedom
Getting up even when everyone and everything
around you wants to keep you down is freedom
Building the life you want is freedom
Knowing better and doing better is freedom
Not letting your emotions influence every
action and decision you make is freedom
Exercising your right to choose is freedom
Saying NO is freedom
Being every bit of the FAB person you are is freedom
To find freedom
You have to be
willing to release
all that’s kept you
in bondage
To be free
you have to
free yourself
Free yourself
Free
Yourself
FREE.”
“Finding Freedom” appears in my forthcoming project, Everything I Miss(ed) At Home.
Okayy. Go off then!
What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in poetry?
Read. Read. And READ some more! And not just poetry books. But all kinds of books. Reading opens your mind to possibilities beyond your current realm. So absorb, learn, and apply as much as you can. Follow the journeys of the writers who inspire you and learn about their process, who or what inspired them, and how they pushed their respective genres forward. Seek mentorship from writers who are in the process of getting to where you want to be or who have already achieved the levels that you desire to achieve.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different styles. Push yourself and your artistry as far as you want to go. There are no limits, other than the ones we place on ourselves. Be confident in yourself and who you are as an artist and poet. People are always going to have something to say. It’s your choice what you want to do with it. If it’s constructive criticism, take it into account and determine if and how you want to incorporate it moving forward.
And it goes without saying that rejection comes with the territory. Do not take it personally. It’s not a rejection of you as a person, your artistry, or your writing. What’s for you is for you. And it won’t be denied. Your job is to keep going. Keep writing! Don’t stop, keep on!
Loving the motivation!
Please, tell us about your books/work.
I write about the human condition, and the things I see in the world around me. I write in a way that is, at times, edgy, raw, and in your face. It can be prose-like. And there’s a musicality within it. My work is inspired by personal experiences and the experiences of others, current events, history, culture, and social issues.
Themes within my work include: home / belonging; personal + collective freedom + liberation; the transformative power of love; community wellness; legacy + living a good life (relationships + family + community + honoring our ancestors); personal empowerment (self-esteem + self-love + self-acceptance); the fight against oppression (police brutality + injustice + inequality + inequity + racism + homophobia + transphobia + sexism). The subject matter can get heavy, but there’s an underlying message of faith, healing, hope, optimism, persistence, resistance, and resilience.
Whew. Wait, hold on. Let us get our pencils and write this down!
I released my first book Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics in 2012. A chapbook entitled, Exotic Shifter, followed in 2014. It served as a prelude to From The Inside Out: A Poetry Collection, which was released in 2020. After that, I digitally released a short collection of love poems entitled, shifting from the inside out, on Valentine’s Day in 2022. And my forthcoming book is entitled, Everything I Miss(ed) At Home. The poetry in Everything I Miss(ed) At Home dives into the meaning of home. The place(s) we call home. Those we find (or don’t find) within our families, friends, communities, within our intimate relationships, and most importantly, within ourselves. Release date is TBD, but it’s on the way! It’ll be published by Liquid Cat Publishing.
Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Promoting my forthcoming project, Everything I Miss(ed) At Home. More performing, on virtual and in-person stages. Participating in festivals, workshops, and author events. Getting more poetry published in online magazines and journals. Finalizing my next manuscript and preparing it to be published. And giving back in whatever way I can!
We will be on the lookout for that book!
Now let’s dig into the poem that snatched the number one spot!
Photo by Collis on Pexels
“Ghosts, Ghostbusting History + Visible / Invisible Lives (Freedom is Ours) ” by Buddah Desmond
Covered in the blood
Blessed
Praised
Adored with oohs and ahhs for what some
might call our supernatural powers and abilities
Yet, beneath the adoration—we’re deemed
disembodied souls
Ghosts
Immaculate for show and tell
For milking and misappropriation
For capital interests and bottom lines
Yet demonic and sacrilegious when we
demand the dignity and respect all beings
created by God deserve to receive
Dispirited
Ever ghostly
Most invisible
We rise up
And they ghostbust
To exterminate that which they don’t want to see
To disassociate from that which they can’t bear to concede
Ghostbusting is their band-aid
Their ego-stroker
Their power sustainer
As we know, without proper healing—sores and pain remain
And as we know, you can act like something
isn’t there all you want
But there comes a time when you can ignore it no more
History wasn’t meant to be comfortable
There were atrocities and inhumanities from
sea to shining sea that we can’t ignore
Some still happening to this day
And while some will proclaim it wasn’t all bad
We know it wasn’t all good either
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile
In the wrong hands, history is rewritten to
block out the true history, herstory, and theirstory that binds us
These hands set out to make our visible lives invisible
These hands ghostbust nonfiction
Turning it into the bestselling fiction that has so many
misled, pimp slapped, and hoodwinked today
These hands dare anyone to speak out and
criticize their recrafting of history
For punishment is swift, shameful, and at times, lethal
Forgive them father for they know not what they do?
Excuse me father, they know exactly what they’re doing
There’s a reason why ghosts and spirits roam
To right wrongs
To vindicate
To fight for justice
And they will not rest until their mission is fulfilled
For every uprising
Every protest
Every rally
Every boycott
Every march
Every sit-in
Every strike
Every campaign
Every cultural, political, and legal battle
Every BLACK OUT
We will not rest
Until our lives are no longer invisible
Freedom is ours for the taking
And our freedom—
Oh, our freedom—
We’re taking it!
Buddah Desmond
Buddah Desmond (aka BDez) is a writer / poet, artist, singer, entrepreneur, and health and wellness coach / advocate. His writing highlights the gritty side of life, while offering messages of hope, love, healing, and resilience.
He is the author of four poetry collections, Prevail: Poems on Love, Life, and Politics (2012), Exotic Shifter (2014), From The Inside Out: A Poetry Collection (2020), and shifting from the inside out: love poems (2022). His writing has appeared in numerous publications including MOOV, MUSED, MelaNation, Mixed Mag, LitMag 2020,No Line Left Behind, Osamasetorbest.com, and sana sana (vol. 1). He is a member of Gamma Xi Phi, and has served as a healing leader in the DC-based arts + faith + social justice organization, The Sanctuaries.
His next poetry project, Everything I Miss(ed) At Home, is forthcoming.
Today, we introduce you to Daphne Ayo, whose poem “Uncaged” placed second in our fifth annual poetry contest.
Daphne, Welcome to The PBS Blog!
What is your name, and where are you from?
My name is Daphne Adeola Ayo, and I am from Kogi state, Nigeria.
Nigeria in the houseeee.
When did you first fall in love with poetry?
I fell in love with poetry in Junior Secondary School Three. I think that’s Grade 9, the third year of Junior High in American parlance. Our English language teacher had asked the class to write a poem, and just like that, I found one of my absolute loves; poetry! It became, for that teenager, a form of therapy, a friend, a soulmate, if you will.😊
Yasss. What was the inspiration behind your poem?
Hmmm. There is so much negativity in the world that sometimes it is hard to see the positives. It can be hard to fight back against the constraints which keep us “in check”, to change the status quo. However, it can be done. “Uncaged”, I would say, was inspired by this ever-growing desire to stand up and show up for myself and my dreams despite all the ‘can’ts’, ‘should nots’ and all the odds stacked up against me as an opinionated, ambitious woman in a man’s world. It’s my way of telling others like me that they can define freedom in their own words and have the strength to push through and break those bars.
Beautifully articulated! Who would it be if you could have lunch with your favorite poet, living or dead?
I have so many poets I look up to and admire. This is hard!😅 Can I choose two? I’ll choose two. Rumi and Warsan Shire.
Awesome. Daphne, are you into spoken word?
I have never recited my poem before an audience before. Well, except you count me as an audience.😂
I would really love to explore the world of spoken word poetry someday. I have one in the works, but it is too shy to leave its shell. The first time is always the hardest.
As an introvert, I feel you. It gets easier the more you do it!
What is your personal definition of freedom?
Freedom means so much to me. I doubt you can even begin to understand how much, and I think that was why the theme resonated so well with me and my pen was able to do its thing. Freedom for me is to do whatever I want (within reasonable limits, of course), to be whoever I want, to speak my feelings, to embrace my demons, to depend on nothing, to live, to love, to win, to lose, to laugh, to cry, to just be ME.
I heard that. What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in poetry?
I would tell you what my close friends told me in many moments of doubt: “Do it!” I used to have this self-doubt over my poems, ‘Are they good enough for other people’s eyes?’ and sometimes I still do, but poetry is something that is personal and worth doing. It’s like being worried if people will like the colour of your eyes or the shape of your nose. It doesn’t matter as long as you own it and love it. If it brings you joy, do it! Take that pen and write, your poetry might be for a few, and that’s absolutely okay.
I love that, and I am sure you have just rescued someone from the bowels of doubt for sure. Please tell us more about your work.
I presently do not have any published books. Everything is still in the works. Some are very shy. I’ve written more poetry and flash fiction than I’ve done of any other genre. My works explore womanhood, grief, loss, love, feminism, friendship, domestic violence, mental health, stigma, and taboo topics in the Nigerian society. For the last one, I’m still building up my courage to share works on that.😅
Chile, we would LOVE to hear more about those taboo topics! We are all about normalizing taboos around here.
Where do you see yourself a year from now?
I’ve learnt not to really project into the future. If you live in Nigeria, you’ll understand why.😅
Daphne, you gonna stop teasing us now! Lol
I do hope that I would have taken a significant leap of growth in my goal to become a creative writer while smashing my other goals as well.
Dope.
Now, tell us. What’s one topic that is Taboo in Nigeria?
That would be homosexuality. I think it intriguing that although it definitely exists, most people would rather pretend it doesn’t.
Ohh. Interesting.
Thank you once again for everything!💙
You’re Welcome hun!
Now, let us dig into this poem!
“Uncaged” by Daphne Adeola Ayo
I sing of words hidden behind my tongue
and of rare, bleeding emotions masked in a song.
My fears and tears take shelter underneath the ink of my poetry;
Poetry which regales tales of sutured pains sautéed in silky smiles,
tales of scars adorned in sordid lies of healing,
tales where blue skies rebel in hues of grey and dark clouds herald gloom.
I hear the dirges from faraway,
singing of doom and caged dreams.
These bars won’t budge;
bars of tortured silence and locks of pain
This caged bird will sing:
In lines of euphemism,
in words of hope and wishes made on starry nights.
That one day, its dark and dreary nights would seek the dawn
and tell tales of battles fought but barely won,
of words breaking chains to escape oaths of silence,
tales of mended wings and beloved demons,
tales of how freedom at long last_____
heeded my relentless summons.
Daphne Adeola Ayo
Daphne is a Nigerian writer who believes in the power and magic of the pen. A student of Classics at the University of Ibadan, she is an avid fan of canine animals, chocolates, and books.
She loves to read, digest, and write poetry. Her works have appeared in her personal poetry journal, on her Instagram account @dee_.vox, and in Classics Press publications, University of Ibadan.
Her works explore themes such as womanhood, love, loss, friendship, and more.
When she is not writing or sleeping, Daphne watches Kdrama, stage plays or listens to Brymo.
Today, we introduce you to Renita Siqueira, whose poem “Allowed to Exist” placed third in our fifth annual poetry contest.
Renita, Welcome to The PBS Blog!
What is your name, and where are you from?
I’m Renita Siqueira and I’m from a city called Pune in India.
India in the houseeee.
When did you first fall in love with poetry?
It was during one of the Literature lectures in college. My professor explained the meaning of each line of a poem. I sadly don’t remember which poem it was, but for the first time, I realized poems are not as simple as they can seem to be. There is a technique, rhythm, music, and a lot of thought that goes into writing them. They can evoke feelings, stir up memories, lead to uprisings, and connect strangers. They are powerful! With the beauty of imagery and different figures of speech, you can write about something without mentioning it at all and leave it up to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Your poem stood out because you gave us a glimpse of life on the other side of the world.
Please, tell us what inspired your poem.
There is an increasing intolerance in my country to differences in various things, such as opinions, beliefs, and religious practices, to mention a few. I was shocked to read the news that young Muslim girls were asked to remove their burkhas and hijabs if they wanted to step inside the classroom. They had to choose between two BASIC human rights—the right to free primary education and the right to practice one’s religion freely. I’ve grown up reading about women like Savitribai Phule and others who pioneered women’s education back in 1948, and here we are in 2022. Disheartening!
Today, it isn’t uncommon to read about mobs, lynching, someone being attacked based on religious grounds, being discriminated against for favouring/supporting a particular political party, etc. People are trying to speak up, but many voices are silenced under various garbs without reason.
There is a powerful line that says:
“Now, the punches break walls and bones and homes with unveiled ferocity no admonishments, no penalties.”
Can you break this down for us?
There has been an increase in caste and religion-based hate crimes in India. People from minorities or certain castes have been subjected to mobs, lynching, and attacks on them and their property. There have been cases where people have been forced to sing slogans of another religion just to stay safe. Rana Ayyub, one of our most outspoken journalists, has been a victim of incessant trolling and threats. Many of the perpetrators of these activities have gone scot-free. If you read the article about hate crimes, you’ll see that some of these horrific crimes were not even reported or acknowledged.
Today, sadly, such stories of violence have become so common that they’ve become just another statistic.
Wow.
If you could have lunch with your favorite poet, living or dead who would it be?
Can I cheat and name two? My favourite poet alive is Sarah Kay. I first came across a video of her performance with Phil Kaye on YouTube. The vocabulary in her poems is simple, but the subjects and writing make you feel the depth of it.
Yes, I am familiar with Sarah Kay! Amazing talent.
My other inspiration is Maya Angelou. I didn’t know much about her when a friend lent me ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’, but later, I kept hearing references to her from different people. I get goosebumps whenever I read or hear her performance of ‘Still I Rise.’
I know right! Maya was amazing.
What inspired your writing journey?
I am quiet, an introvert, and most often found listening to what others have to say. But I am also very observant, creative, and perceptive and have my own take on things. The bio on my first blog read, ‘I express myself better through the written word to convey unseen feelings and unheard thoughts :)’. Ten years later, I find myself better at expressing my thoughts vocally, but I still prefer the written word. I received a lot of encouragement from my family and friends. Moreover, when people shared that they liked what I wrote or it made them think, that encouraged me to keep writing and trying to hone it.
On a side note, I like writing in rhymes, but sadly, it’s not considered serious poetry.
Aht, Aht! All poetry is serious poetry, lol.
Have you ever performed your poetry before an audience?
I was first introduced to live spoken word when I was in Bombay and attended an event curated by Rochelle D’Silva. She was amazing! I’ve fangirled over Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye, read Nikita Gill, and listened to Megha Rao’s podcast. It was so cool that I wanted to give it a try.
I ended up reading, instead of reciting, my poems a few times out of fear of forgetting. It was very nerve-wracking. Yet, as poets, we know exactly which words require emphasis, where to slow down and pick up the pace, where to pause, etc. If I practice long and hard enough and gather enough courage, I would love to give spoken word a try.
I think you’ll do great.
What Does Freedom Mean to You?
To me, freedom means the ability to ‘live and let live’ without impeding on someone else’s right to live, and their way of living shouldn’t affect mine. I’ve grown up practicing ‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you’. If I don’t want to be discriminated against, want to read, eat, travel, and do the things that give me joy, I also need to make sure I don’t step on someone’s right to do the same.
What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in poetry?
I’m learning myself, so I’m not sure whether I can advise. My Manager says the best way to improve at anything is through practice and exposure. So, keep writing and reading. Be okay with being mediocre in the beginning; everyone has to start somewhere. Diamonds shine only after all the polishing, right? Don’t discount yourself, don’t assume publishers will not like what you write. Write it anyway, share it anyway. Most often, there’s more to gain than to lose. And give up the idea of ‘perfection’—a perfect word, a perfect poem, a perfect time. If perfection existed, progress wouldn’t.
Please, tell us more about your work.
I am an instructional designer, freelance writer, and poet. I’ve written for various publications on the environment, healthcare, gender, and socio-political issues.
Where do you see yourself a year from now?
I’m a work in progress. I’ll be reading and writing for sure, developing new interests and hobbies, learning and growing, and, fingers crossed, having a book published.
Yess, to published books! Talk that talk.
Now, let’s get to this poem!
Photo by Monstera
“Allowed to Exist” by Renita Siqueira
I hail-ed
from the golden bird of the east,
the land of riches, of diversity, of hospitality…
You’d be welcomed.
Here, you could find men
with a turban, a taqiyah, a crucifix and a sacred thread
Exchanging tales of laughter, sadness and fears.
Here, you could find women
permitted to pick up pen and paper
and right their own futures.
Here, you could agree to disagree,
roll with the punches
without bleeding life and its dignity.
Here, we celebrated each other in our own ways
bowing to our different gods, because
They were allowed to exist…
in a democracy.
I now hail
from the land of saffron,
the land of poverty, of conformity, of not bigotry… yet.
You are (not) welcomed;
Hungry wallets are.
Here, you will find men
but the turban, the taqiyah, the crucifix must remain hidden;
The tales are replaced
by grim pleasantries, meaningful nods, suffocating silences.
Here, school girls can wear hijabs
But must strip their personal beliefs at the classroom door
if they want an education.
Here you can say your prayers
but not too loud.
Now, the punches break walls and bones and homes
with unveiled ferocity
no admonishments, no penalties
if you dare to swim against the tide of saffron
which began through trickles but now threatens
to wipe you out.
Here, history is being rewritten or expunged.
I read 1984 and wonder
Did Orwell foresee what would happen in the land of his birth?
Here, we celebrate what’s left of ourselves
within our boxes, hiding our labels
without stepping out of line
bowing our heads to one god
the only god that’s allowed to exist…
AuToCrAcY (in disguise).
Renita Siqueira
Renita Siqueira is from India. Growing up in a family of readers and teachers, and with lots of books, she finds recourse in words. She found poetry, or rather poetry found her during college when she was encouraged to take part in a poetry competition. Since then, she hasn’t stopped writing. She’s an instructional designer by profession, poet by passion and hopes to have her own books of poems published someday.
Being a creative person, she draws, paints, sings, dances (in her bedroom), lovingly makes handmade gifts and does a bit of gardening. She enjoys traveling and loves train rides. She’s constantly on the lookout to learn something new and grow. “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”
Today, we introduce you to Rebecca Whitman, whose poem “Moment of Truth” placed fourth in our fifth annual poetry contest.
Rebecca, Welcome to The PBS Blog!
What is your name, and where are you from?
Rebecca J. Whitman, eastern North Carolina.
When did you first fall in love with poetry?
My earliest memory of anything I said I wanted to be was a writer. More specifically, I wrote that I wanted to go to college for a Bachelor’s degree in Writing. I was seven when I wrote that, and I did go on to accomplish it. I majored in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry. I have been writing poetry all my life.
That’s awesome! “Moment of Truth” is a powerful poem. What was the inspiration behind it?
“Moment of Truth” is about a relationship where one person is always feeling a little more love than the other, and it traps them. I also challenged myself to use beach and water imagery because I live in a coastal state. I felt the beach imagery reflected the ebb and flow of their relationship as well.
Brilliant. I love the risk you took in putting a twist on the theme. It’s like the person yearns for freedom but can’t quite grasp it. What went into your decision to end the poem the way you did?
I love poetry that has unexpected endings and lasting imagery. I also wanted to stay true to what happened to the characters in real life. They remained friends but only as long as the one (speaker) silenced her own feelings about the other. She thought freedom was tied to him loving her, but that was something he could not give. She could only find freedom when she stopped expecting him to love her in return, but that also was her prison.
Wow. Powerful. If you could have lunch with your favorite poet, living or dead, who would it be?
I love a lot of different poets, old and new, but I think the one who changed me the most was Michael Ondaatje. He was my first experience with mixing non-fiction and poetry. He also left a lasting impression with the depth of sensory detail in his imagery. If I could, I would love to sit and talk to him about his work.
Nice. What inspired your writing journey in general?
As cliché as it sounds, reading inspired my writing journey. I have been exposed to some amazing writers and traveled through time and space with their words. No other occupation ever seemed so magical and weighty to me as that of a writer.
I was in love with reading too so I feel you! It is definitely the driving force behind the first study of writing for many.
Are you into spoken word?
I have read my poems before a live audience, and I have recorded readings in the style of spoken word. It was intimidating, but it also freed me up to explore the work in a different, empowering way.
Yes indeed. Rebecca, what does freedom mean to you?
Freedom is both a right and a privilege. When I think of what it means to be free, I think it means the ability to have equal opportunity in life. In America, we talk a lot about freedom. We say it is a right our forefathers fought for, but it is also a privilege. Not everyone can freely say and do what they wish the way Americans do.
What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in poetry?
I have never seen poetry as a career–it is more a form of expression as near to me as breathing. I can’t write at all without eventually coming back to it.
Being a published poet is a game of endurance and persistence. You need to be willing to put in the work to master your craft. It takes time to find your voice and perfect it. You also need to be open to sharing your work and gleaning from criticism. Some of my best advice came from peers in writing circles in college when I was too scared to share my heart on paper.
Get involved in as many contests and publication opportunities as you can because poetry publication is all about getting your work seen. When you are ready, pursue opportunities to publish whole collections of your work.
Please, tell us about your books/work.
I write regularly on my blog, The Bohemian Princess Journal, at rebeccajwhitman.com. There are over 150 posts there intentionally designed to inspire and build community. I am also working on poetry, short stories, and non-fiction for publication locally and internationally.
Where do you see yourself a year from now?
As a writer, I hope to see more work published diversely as it is now. I would like to see growth in how many readers I have around the world. At last count, I had readers in over 70 different countries.
I know that’s right. Now, let us dig into this poem!
Photo by Tuấn Kiệt Jr.
“Moment of Truth” by Rebecca Whitman
I let you lead me across salt-cured planks
of yellow wood, greyed by time in the sun.
I walk on water, yet oceans stand
between your heart and mine.
How long will the wind
be more curious to play
with my hair than you are?
How long will you hold my hand,
Tell me your secrets, and
Deny me your name?
Am I still a departure
from everything you think
you want for yourself?
Is loving me still an anchor
pitching you overboard
from your freedom?
I look up at you with angst,
longing to be the girl who lives
in your shadow, and warms
your bed.
You squeeze my hand and smile,
refuse to say the words
that will make us more.
I build sand castles
around my heart and live
barricaded.
Rebecca Whitman, 2022.
Rebecca J. Whitman is a high school English teacher by day, and a local news reporter by night. Though that sounds like a super hero bio, she believes the real power lies in developing work/life balance and enjoying her life. She lives in Eastern North Carolina with Bachelor and Master’s degrees in English and Writing. She shares her writing regularly to an international audience on her blog. When not working, she enjoys travel, art, writing, and quality time with loved ones.
Today, I introduce you to the four winners of this year’s poetry contest followed by their Instagram handles. Get on over there and follow them neoww.
#1: Buddah Desmond
“Ghosts, Ghostbusting History + Visible / Invisible Lives (Freedom is Ours)”
(@buddahdesmond)
#2: Daphne Ayo
“Uncaged”
(@dee_.vox )
#3: Renita Siqueira
“Allowed to Exist”
(@renitasiqueira)
#4: Rebecca Whitman
“Moment of Truth”
(@rebeccajwhitman)
Congratulations!!
And congratulations to everyone who participated! There would be no contest without your support.
This is the first time we’ve had such a diverse group of winners!
We even have winners from India and Nigeria! Can you guess who it is?
We ultimately chose our winners for receiving high scores in several areas, including beauty, power, education/message, originality, creativity, how closely they followed the submission requirements, and overall impact.
I am incredibly proud of what they will bless you with in these coming weeks!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight each of these poets individually on the blog and social media. We’ll dig deeper into what inspired their poem, read the winning poem, and understand their writing process.
Introducing the Grand Prize Winner of Yecheilyah’s 4th Annual Poetry Contest 2021
As soon as I read the first few lines of Love Is by Tiffany, I whispered, “Yes.” Determined not to play favoritism, I sat it aside, but every time I came back to it, I would whisper, “Yes.”
I knew from the start this was the poem we were looking for when we decided on this prompt.
When I said this year, our theme was love, I wanted to see how the poets would explore love beyond what we typically think of it. More than romantic love and even self-love. What other faces does love have?
“Love is food stamps, government cheese, grits with sugar, and collard greens. Love is the sand between my toes. Love is the prize at the bottom of crackerjack box. Love is hopscotch and Double Dutch. Love is Afro-puffs, two French braids, and your first French kiss.”
As someone who grew up in the Robert Taylor Projects on Chicago’s south side, I can relate to these words. I remember government cheese and powdered milk and how my mama used to french braid me and my sister’s hair. Sometimes we had one french braid to the back and sometimes two. While we didn’t have much, we had love.
These are the kinds of lines that set Tiffany’s poem apart. She went deeper and took us back to our roots. Her poem showed us other sides of love and it was relatable:
“Love is easy like Sunday morning. Love is Betty Wright, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Patti LaBelle, a brilliant collaboration of lyrical hands fighting for the same devotion because love is Soul Train. Love is rich soil to the soul.”
As you can see from these excerpts, Tiffany understood the assignment. Let me introduce and congratulate our grand prize winner, who will, along with the other prizes, be taking home a full publishing package toward whatever book she writes in the future.
Tiffany James is an incredible motivator, speaker, and gifted storyteller. She is married and has three beautiful daughters, who are her world. Tiffany’s mission is to inspire everyone to own their voice, walk with their heads high when they walk in a room because they belong in the room, and rock their greatness while celebrating the greatness in others.
Tiffany knows firsthand how hard it is to be the cheerleader behind your dreams, after deciding in 2007, when her corporate career came to an end due to the economy, to pursue her passion of using her voice and writings to impact change. It has been a beautiful, exciting, and sobering journey. There have been many times over the years she found herself struggling with uncertainty from the many disappointments and considered giving up and returning to Corporate America. Thankfully during that time, she had surrounded herself with a strong tribe who believed in her dreams as much as she did.
It is now her mission to be a voice of encouragement to people all over, regardless of their journey, to be bold enough to answer the call of the dream.
Tiffany passionately and consistently achieves this mission through her writings, workshops, storytelling, encouragement-coaching, speaking, and her new, inspiring book, Living in the Land of I Am- Your Life Journey Reveals Your Purpose. She teaches you success is not defined by how many figures you make but by the courage, it takes to stay true to yourself while pursuing your purpose. Her mentoring motto, “Greatness is about serving others with the gift that God has given you.”
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be spotlighting each of these poets individually here on the blog and social media. We will start with #4 and countdown from there. Be sure you are subscribed to this blog as we dig deeper into what inspired the winning poems.
lol
The PBS Blog 