It was after a painful breakdown at the end of my first year of college that I had my most painful experience – a breakdown which had me questioning my life, my existence and the world around me. This existential crisis continued for a long time and it was suggested to me that I use poetry as a form of therapy. I loved rap and its lyrical content, Eminem’s lyrics also spoke to me. Although I did not know how to replicate them and why Rap had such narrow fields of topics they wrote about, I remember Eminem talking in one of his skits a short track on his album about only rapping about certain things.
I have learnt since, that you should write about what you know and form your own creative voice. So, of course my first lyric was innocent and sweet like a chocolate treat! Although, looking back, it wasn’t my finest work, I soon wrote my first poem, “When Love is an Alien Word” with my sister, Zoe’s help. I can still remember how elated I felt at creating a piece of poetry I was actually proud of.
Writing poetry became my addiction, I found it incredibly cathartic. It helped me to realise my emotions, thoughts and desires. I wrote a poem about homelessness and read it in church for the opening of Two Saints homeless hostel and found that it resonated with people. It was a very moving experience and made me realise how powerful poetry can be and how it touches many people’s lives, enabling them to think and question life.
That is why I wanted to be a poet. To do all of those things. To create art through my words. To make people think. To question the establishment.