So I’ve been writing poetry since I can remember. It has never been a way to escape from life as many say music is their escape but poetry has been a way for me to deal and cope with all of life’s events and the emotions that come with them. It was never a means of getting away, writing just made it easier to understand my thoughts and place them on paper. It forced me to confront reality head on and express my emotions on that reality. I have written everything from a best friend and me growing apart, to a poem dedicated to someone who has influenced my life in a special way, all the way to writing about the classic cliché break up. There really is no life experience I have not written about. Poetry has helped me keep my sanity from the struggles of the world and it has allowed me to express my love for someone in ways I couldn’t ever do verbally. I have always had a difficult time untying and untangling my tongue to speak my heart’s words. Writing gives me the ability to give a tour of the inside of my mind and depths of my soul to someone and I think it shows both much more accurately than if I tried physically speaking it.

This leads me to my next idea on the power of words. Everyone knows the saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I’m here to argue and say that phrase is a complete lie and I think many can agree with me. The reason words are so incredibly powerful is because they can either create beauty, create damage or create destruction. As the bible states in James 3:6 “the tongue is fire, the very world of iniquity.” Your tongue has the power to be someone’s lifeline or lead someone’s heart to flatline depending on what and how you say something.

The final reason I write poetry is to hopefully connect with others. I want people to read my work and be able to relate so they know they are not alone in their feelings or thoughts. Even if one word or line is all they can find connections with, I’ll find happiness in that. This world is so much more tolerable when we realize we are not alone in our struggles, suffering or even positive experiences. Poetry is simply a way to express, connect and cope. And as Michael Franti so beautifully states: “Every single soul is a poem.”