A Specail Gift

April is National Poetry Month. In middle and high school, we read and wrote poetry. I remember learning about poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Edgar Allan Poe.

In 7th grade, I was assigned to write a poem about any subject I wanted. At this time, I was getting into watching professional and college basketball. I decided to write a poem about basketball. When I showed my poem to my teacher, he was impressed by my words and thought it was perfect to enter into a poetry contest. The poems selected would be part of a book that was being published. My poem was one of the selections! From this day on, my love for poetry writing began.

Now, I enjoy writing inspirational poetry. Some of my poems are geared toward people like me, but they can also reach people who don’t walk in my shoes.

In 2019, I wrote a poem called "I Am.” I was inspired to write this poem because, at this time. I was dealing with insensitive comments directed towards me. Writing this poem allowed me to express what I was feeling. By writing "I Am.”, I wanted people to see and know that I Am more than my challenges. This poem has inspired anyone who has ever heard or read it.

When I'm at camp during the summer, I enjoy sharing my poetry during the talent shows. The first poem I performed in 2019 was "I Am”. Everyone was so impressed with my poem. Many people felt touched by my message. Each year, I am always given a standing ovation.

In 2023, my class hosted a T-shirt contest. Two other classmates and I made T-shirt designs. When we were done, the school had to vote on one design that they liked. I chose to put my poem "I Am” on the shirt. The winning design would be printed on T-shirts for sale as a fundraiser. To my surprise, my shirt won. We sold a lot of T-shirts.

There is something special about my words that can touch people's lives in a very special way. If you ask someone who has heard or read my poems, they will tell you that they feel inspired and motivated. People use my poems as a boost in the morning to start the day or week off strong. My family and friends have told me that my poetry helps them better understand my testimony.

It never occurred to me that I would love poetry as much as I do now. I didn’t realize that poetry would become part of my story. From writing, “I Am”, poetry has become a gift for me. It has become one of the ways I express myself and my feelings.