“Canvas”, once titled “Accidental Discovery” was the first poem I ever wrote back in 2015. It’s interesting because before this I had a strong dislike for writing and reading. But Meddrick Mazile, a close friend of mine, was dealing with the circumstances life gave him and that sparked something in me to grab my phone and start jotting down in my “notes” app. 

Meddrick and I have always talked and still talk about the idea that no matter what we do with our lives we will always be judged. I used this common topic in our lives to put this together. Without the intention to, I was able to make this into a motivational masterpiece in my eyes. 

This was the starting point of who I was meant to be and just a glimpse of the type of poet I have turned into.

CANVAS

I wrote “Recollection” as a poetic introduction to my life. I grew up as an only child but just so you know growing up as an only child has its pros and cons. Pros: I was able to develop leadership, independence, and confidence over time. Cons: I did things how I wanted. I talked a lot in class, got in fights, and I struggled to express certain emotions other kids could. Nonetheless, I appreciated being an only child. I had no standards to live up to besides my parents. 

The older I got the more I learned that although their standards are important, I shouldn’t have to live up to those either. The development of my leadership, independence, and confidence has also given me the ability to embrace the cons I listed earlier. I am more in-tuned with my emotions and love the idea of working with others to achieve a common goal. I still talk a lot but that alone is the reason why you are on my page. 

This introduction highlights how poetry found me and how I am using it to bring us all together. Creative minds are complex but so is figuring out this thing we call “life”. 

I am the person that will help you understand that even though we live this life individually, we are all connected through experiences good or bad. And all it takes for us to realize that is to have a conversation, actively listen, look at things from a different perspective, and decide to change for the better.

RECOLLECTION

“Selfless” is part II of “Recollection”. When I wrote this I just finished my undergrad at the University of Florida and finally settled into my new job which required me to move to Tampa. “Just another city to conquer” is what I told myself, considering I moved every 2 years after high school. 

Moving and claiming a new city as your home is always hard and Tampa was not my home but truth be told, poetry made its home in me during my time in the “813”. I accepted poetry for what it was and knew without poetry I would never truly be happy. 

Tampa allowed me to meet with other great poets, perform at numerous amounts of open mics virtually and physically. But most importantly, Tampa gave me the confidence to introduce myself as a poet not just another employee for a Fortune 500 company. 

Happiness was what I needed to reach success. 

I found happiness in my creativity and it never felt so good.

N.I.Y.A. Poetry

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