Jusjess Poetry – Growth, Healing, and Discovery

“I never said that my entire childhood was horrible. I said that deplorable things took place that weren’t addressed – for some of it I did blame my parents – for some of it I did blame cultural expectations and being raised in an environment of southern hypocrisy in which we ought not ever complain or speak as a child, but be seen in a favorable representation of our lineage; in which we must forgive but not identify those who harmed children.”

I realized that I cannot be so quick to react 

and that it is my responsibility to keep going 

and to keep rising above.

On the notion of wanting to 

make positive impacts 

and noting how much I negate that goal 

each time that I react 

in a way isn’t conducive to the message…

Sometimes I wake up out of my sleep and I pray.

And each day that I pray 

I feel more equipped 

For this part 

That Little Me couldn’t see 

But that she could feel.

I am filled with this energy 

which does retract whenever 

my actions or statements are led 

by pride and ego –

it dances further away 

only to come back when I let go –

of everything and anything and anyone 

standing in the way of a purpose 

that even I have yet to fully define.

This writing,

This destiny,

It’s for me.

It’s mine.

EXCERPT FROM YESTERDAY’S BLOG POST

“I’d rather combust into an endless gust of

words,

letters, and 

phrases 

than to keep having the same conversations leading me to rages 

that resemble stages 

of who I used to be. 

The gravity of my reactivity is on me,

and I can’t afford to go 

back down that street,

these tired feet will keep on walking 

a lonely but ultimately rewarding path.

Tip-toe..

Tip-toe..

… here I go… pace..”

My 30-poem chapbook, A Different Kind of Rising: Freedom in Healing and Self-Discovery

A Different Kind of Rising: Freedom in Healing and Self-Discovery