The most important part of the word community is unity. How on earth are we able to commune if we aren’t unified? A community is made up of an eclectic array of people who come from different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Take the poetry community in Tampa for example. There are people from all walks of life, like college graduates, parents, single and married people, heterosexual and homosexual individuals, young, not so young, and older people. An eclectic bunch of folks.

Everyone’s agendas are different. Some people’s agendas may be similar, but in essence each person’s agenda has differences from the other. That’s fine. It’s perfectly okay from everyone to have different reasons as to why they are doing this. They had to go down different paths to get here, right? There are even individuals who don’t care for one another. That’s fine too. Such is life, such is poetry. I think the biggest issue that we face in this potentially powerful community is the overall mutual respect for one another.

With the word hater being spewed around so freely these days, people automatically assume that if someone doesn’t support them by going to a show or buy their CD that they are being hated on. First of all, sometimes, it’s not about them! It may be something that individual is going through. I can’t go to everything. At one point, I tried. It was draining me. What people don’t realize is that people have lives. Things happen. People may just not feel like going out. They may have had a rough day. They just might be a single parent, juggling a job, their passion, their aspiring dreams and goals. They may not have the money or means to get there. Stop taking things so personally! Granted some things are personal. There are a few people that don’t care for me. That’s fine. I’ll never bash them or talk against their shows. I may not personally take time to go out and support or spend my money with them. That’s the consumer in me. We have that right to choose where we spend our money and most importantly our time. But those people are very few. I support the movement. I support the art form. I support it because of what it means to me and what Poetry has done for me. So regardless of who is having a show, if it’s going on and I can go (physically, mentally, or spiritually) I usually go.

If we all respect each other and each journey and realize that someone else’s success or popularity doesn’t discount the next poets, we would be better off. Tampa is so big and there are too many people here who don’t even know that there is a poetry community out here. Why not work together to build something that can be just as beautiful to a bigger broader audience? We have too much at stake to get caught up in beef and hate. I know all too well how the hate, (and lack of support) from community can break you down. I nearly quit (I think I actually did once.)! Not everyone has the resolve to keep pushing and stay focused. I barely do some days and I sometimes I want to say, (excuse my French) “F the poetry community!”  Lol! But, where oh where, would that get me? I’m still invested in it and I still believe that it can help people and ultimately change lives.

Think about it. It can build confidence. It can build friendships. It can bridge gaps. It can add definition to your life. That’s what poetry has done for me. Why would I not want to share that with someone who may be in my same position. Single mother that didn’t finish college, works hard to take care of her family and be a blessing to whomever she can, but has gotten lost in the day to day and being a “statistic”. There are too many people who want to see me suffer, fall, and fail. Poetry not only provides an outlet, but a redemption because I was gifted with it. That’s a gift I love to open and enjoy over and over again. It’s just a part of me. It’s that way for a lot of people. So as a community, we can continue to break down barriers and walls. We can build bridges to bridge gaps. We can change lives. We just have to respect each other and appreciate the love that each one of us has for poetry. We all love differently.

I had a Purple Kisss Ent shirt on that said “I Kiss Haters”. This older lady asked me what that meant. She was very concerned with what my answer would be. I simply said, I’m learning to greet my haters with love. So with the same love that we have for this art, let’s greet each other with love and make waves and moves to make a difference. I can see it and I’m excited about it. I’m invested in this movement because this is my passion and Tampa is my city. I’ll keep going until I can’t whether that be physically, mentally, or spiritually. But I don’t see that happening any time soon.

This past weekend, I had pleasure of going to an anniversary celebration in Tallahassee for Black on Black Rhyme,  a collection of Poets & Artists who perform and share poetry for love, healing, enlightenment, education & entertainment. (from blackonblackrhyme.net).  It was a weekend  filled with love, friendship, unity and POETRY!   On the way up there I had no idea what to expect.  I have had some not so positive experiences in the poetry community in Tampa, particularly with some members that are a part of BOBR Tampa.  Naturally, I was nervous and a bit skeptical, but I had to go.

Back story:  Since I was 12 years old, I had wanted to go to FAMU.  There was no other school that existed, even though my mother and one of my best friend’s parents were BCU (BCC at the time) alumni and my best friend was going there also.  FAMU was the ONLY school for me.  The day I got my acceptance letter was one of the happiest days of my life.  I remember the feeling like it was yesterday.   When I got there, it was like I belonged there.  It was kismet.  However, shortly after arriving, I found out that I was pregnant from my high school sweetheart.  I had to leave my beloved FAMU to be a mother and wife, as I decided (despite the advice of family and friends) to have my child and get married.   Life happened.  Children came.  Divorce occurred.   Working took priority.  I got lost in the day to day and soon FAMU was pushed back into the recesses of my heart.

I have been writing poetry since I can remember.   To my family, poetry and Kissha were synonymous.   I never stopped writing.  In 2002, (I believe it was 2002) my cousin told me about a poetry show that I should check out.  I anxiously waited for Tuesday to come.  I found a babysitter for my young children and drove by myself to Ybor city.  I remember climbing the stairs, feeling nervous.  I didn’t know then, but this show would add to my passion for writing. I put my name on the list and when I was called, I went up with my paper in hand and read my poem.  I was so nervous, my hands were shaking and so were the words.  When I was done, I stuck around for a little bit.  I remember Wally B and JB (two of the hosts) making me feel welcomed.  That was my first dose of BOBR.  I felt like I was home.  It again was kismet.

Again life happened. Poetry never got pushed as far back into the recesses of my heart, just to the side. I started a spoken word ministry at my church in 2007, because that where I could take my children.  I performed at various churches and at my job’s corporate events.  It never left me, it just was pushed to the side by life.  Children and work mostly took my mindset.  Then I started going back to BOBR Tampa.  It was a lot different, but it was still poetry.  I did a spotlight.  I started and ended my own show.  I partnered with Purple Kisss Ent to do various shows.  I became a new host of Poetry Is. I performed at various events.  I had become a part of the Poetry scene (before being “underground” and solo). But I was still searching for something.

This weekend I went back to Tallahassee and had the honor of seeing the celebration of BOBR’s 16 year anniversary.  My daughter, the one I decided to leave school and give birth to, turned 16 in March.  That hit me like a ton of bricks.  I could’ve cried.  I could’ve laughed.  I could’ve screamed.  For the past 17 years, life has happened.  This weekend, going back, I got to see two of the things that were kismet to me, combined.  I got to see how close I was to witnessing it from the beginning.  Most of all, I realized that when God plants something inside of you, it never leaves you.  It can be resurrected.  Delay does not mean denial.  I fell in love with my dreams again. I fell in love with my passion.  I found a hope that can’t be shaken by life just happening.  I realized how important they are to my existence.  I understand how much of an impact that I can have on my family, my community, and my people.  I won’t let life happen again.  I will enjoy the experiences that mold my life, my poetry, and my destiny.

I am thankful that I was asked to go up to Tallahassee and be reintroduced to “Kismet”.  You should definitely hold on to your “kismet”.  Be blessed everyone…..

You have been Sealed With A Kiss.  ~ Kiss Kissha!