https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet daily 1.0 2026-03-05 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/small-joys-new-roots monthly 0.5 2026-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1772734311666-1BNFUII94LYJ6S110K0W/unsplash-image--9c5jzDszTw.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Small Joys, New Roots There’s something about this time of year that feels like a quiet exhale. Spring is just on the horizon and new life is on the verge of budding. The light lingers a little longer. The mornings feel less heavy. Everything seems brighter. And I’ve started to notice small joys . Little moments that just make me smile. Opening my windows on spontaneous rainy nights. Breathing in the fresh air as it drifts into my apartment. Baking bread in the late night hours and trusting myself through the process. Cooking a meal and savoring the leftovers. Late night conversations with babe and naked cuddles under warm covers. Celebrating poetry book anniversaries and revisiting the words in my books. Simple. Quiet. Small joys. I think growth is often like this — not loud, but soft and steady. Rooted. Almost invisible at first. The kind that happens underground before anything blooms. The kind of growth I’ve been craving. More mornings that feel intentional instead of rushed. More presence. Less technology. More laughter over meals. More genuine connection. More space in my schedule for rest, rooted in intention. More memories made in private with people I love dearly. I’m being transferred to a new pot with fresh soil. And patiently allowing my roots to deepen throughout this season of growth. Spring doesn’t demand. It unfolds. And I think I am, too. Photo by Olivia Rosth, @oliviarosth https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/12-years-a-survvor monthly 0.5 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/3ba1d319-5700-4c93-8f10-3397cd627ef8/71F61BD1-9A68-4B77-9F08-F4AE55317FB0.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - 12 Years A Surv;vor - February 18, 2026, I held a private, sacred ceremony at 3:15am sitting at my dining room table. A ceremony dedicated to celebration. A moment to pause and look back at just how far I have come. February 18, 2014, I was raped. In the bedroom of my childhood home. I was 17. It changed my life forever. I buried this trauma within me for years. It wasn’t until I started therapy while in college that everything came to the surface. Flashbacks. Hypervigilance. Night terrors. Debilitating phantom pains. I was psychologically reliving the rape all over again. My escape was alcohol —disguised as college partying. I always had vodka in my dorm room, hidden in bins and folded into clothes in my closet. Alcohol made me forget. It provided me a temporary numbing for my pain. It was my cure for PTSD. Sometimes I would flirt with death and take sleeping pills after a night of binge drinking. Almost like a game I played with God to see if He would finally take me away…but He never did. Because He knew I had a greater purpose. He valued my life even when I didn’t. Years of therapy forced me to look in the mirror and face my fears. I learned about all the weight I was carrying. Weight that wasn’t even mine to worry about. As I peeled back the layers of my trauma, I discovered healing. I discovered a whole new perspective on life — one filled with opportunity. Life has been a whirlwind since that fateful day back in 2014. But what a blessing it is that I chose to live it anyway. In an ironic twist, I fell in love with Life in a way I never could with dying. 12 years a survivor. Forever to go. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/grief-three-things-im-sitting-with monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1769714123848-QNWCJL5CBTAVO2T47WMF/unsplash-image-IeZekEucsA0.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Grief: Three Things I’m Sitting With - Lately, I’ve been sitting with a few things. Not to solve them. Just to notice them. 1. A feeling An unresolved ache of missing Grandma’s home. A constant throb that threatens to burst through the levee I built for my tears. I feel it most when I drive past her house. She still owns the house. It still stands on the southside of town but there is no glow to the windows. No warmth to its presence. A mere shell of its former self. It’s just not the same without her there. 2. A realization This ongoing ache is meant to prevent me from ignoring my grief. As painful as it is, this ache keeps me present in times when I just want to mentally disappear. To numb myself out. It keeps me grounded in my pain so I can continue to grow through my grief. It’s a blessing and a curse. 3. A practice or intention I’m learning to allow myself to grieve. This change is hard and emotionally grueling. I’ve literally watched myself go from being cared for by my grandma to becoming her caregiver. The roles have reversed but the love remains the same, if not stronger. I need to lean into that love when grief becomes so heavy. Easier said than done, but I am trying. That is all I can do. Photo by Peter Herrmann, @tama66. *Not my grandma’s house. New poem on the Poems page. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/three-things monthly 0.5 2026-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/d1fc8fe6-c218-4a23-a765-b57e0fc47574/IMG_0856.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Becoming Without A Deadline - I am breaking the narrative of growth being on a timeline. Everything is so rushed. Instant gratification. Wealth & luxury by your early twenties. Marriage and kids before thirty. And so on. And so on. I used to be in a rush. I rushed to get to college after graduating high school. I was scared to go beyond 4 years to get my degree. I was in a rush to get a job right after graduating. It was always “what’s next?” instead of pausing to be intentional and acknowledge my progress. Recognizing and celebrating growth over time is essential to maintaining it. And most importantly, intentionally acknowledging progress without the need to broadcast it for likes and views. That takes away from the genuine feel of growth. Sometimes celebrating is meant to be intimate. Sometimes recognition is only done within yourself. From my experience, this keeps me humble and allows me to focus on the true intention of my work. It has nothing to do with notoriety or fame—it is solely rooted in healing and community. I have accomplished so much and I am grateful for this growth. But I am still growing. I am still becoming. In my own time, without a deadline. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/2026-goals monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/75481574-d98a-4c89-9994-62ed3bca608c/IMG_8194.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Checking In: Reflecting on 2025 - Happy New Year! It’s officially 2026! It might sound cliche but every year I swear I feel more and more sure of myself. Who I am. Where I come from. Where I am going. Sometime in 2024 I woke up on a random Saturday morning and felt a wave of peace fall over me. Like a loved one giving me a hug and reassuring me of myself. It’s possible I was visited by my ancestors that day and since that visit I have been at peace within myself. Of course I still have bad days. My mind still ventures down dark roads occasionally, but I now have a level of peace that anchors me at my core. That’s the best way I can explain it. I guess God knew I was going to need that peace for 2025 because 2025 was a challenging year. I left my social work job to step into a caregiver role for my grandma. I published my first sensual poetry book and first ever audiobook! I celebrated 11 years of #survivorhood —thank you, 17-year-old Bre! I submerged myself in griefwork and mentoring Black and Brown kids. I taught an entire elementary school healthy habits by myself. I gained forever friendships that have changed my life. Poetz Portal has become my home base for all things poetry and community. I attended the funeral of my childhood best friend and it changed my life forever—rest in peace, Mela. In May, I watched my oldest nephew walk across the stage to get his diploma, and later watched him start his freshman year of college. I was in a car accident that turned my world upside down for months. I threw myself into creative opportunities. I challenged myself to be a better human and get more involved in the fight for human rights. I trusted myself in all things. I experienced a lot last year. I grew—mentally, spiritually, and poetically. In terms of poetry, I completely freed myself of any restraints on my writing. No more trying to make things rhyme or fit a certain structure. I just wrote from my heart and guess what? Everything fell into place. The rhymes came naturally and the structure became sound on its own. I have never felt more empowered as a poet. And my poetry certainly reflects that. I’m working on book #4. More on that later ;) 2025 was a trying year for my relationship. My boyfriend and I experienced stress that almost took us both to a breaking point. Looking back at all the drama of that makes me laugh now, but in the moment it was painful. The physical labor of love was intense. My relationship demanded more of me than ever before. I truly believe that if my boyfriend and I did not have such a solid foundation, our relationship would have crumbled. Again. But this past year of newfound appreciation, patience, understanding, and unconditional love really set us up for success. We really got put to the test in the Summer. Thankfully we passed and were able to settle comfortably into the end of 2025. I’m looking forward to growing together in 2026. I’m also looking forward to more consistent blogging and expanding my brand. I’m claiming 2026 as my year of sustained growth. Cheers to a New Year! Let’s grow together :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/deeply-rooted-by-stephanie-c-burton monthly 0.5 2025-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/515b6106-cac3-46c1-8e63-dacfddaad658/C5C2CF95-31F2-40AF-B9F8-BF5E0C1A4468-5043-000000C487BDC942.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - Deeply Rooted by Stephanie C. Burton - A few weeks ago I came across a post on Facebook from a former classmate and friend of mine, Stephanie. She was announcing the publishing of her journal “Deeply Rooted: For Black Women Caregivers Growing in Grace, Grounded in Truth,” a digital reflection journal for people like me. As a caregiver for my elderly grandma this journal was calling to me. I purchased a copy, downloaded it easily. But —of course— life started lifin’ and I wasn’t able to dive into it the way I had planned. The previous blog post I made is about Black women, myself specifically, being labeled “Superwoman.” At the time I wrote the blog post I was completely overwhelmed with responsibilities, commitments, EVERYTHING. The same day I made the post, I opened “Deeply Rooted” from my Google Drive. As I was reading Part 1, everything resonated with me deeply. I realized this journal is just what I needed to navigate the complexities of caregiving, emotional burden, guilt, exhaustion, etc. “Deeply Rooted” is very intentionally and thoughtfully crafted and I know it can help many Black women caregivers. I encourage you to purchase a copy for yourself, a friend, an auntie, or anyone who could benefit from this reflection journal. It will change a life. To learn more about Stephanie C. Burton and SoulFull by Design, click the link below! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/superwoman monthly 0.5 2025-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/24e41670-04aa-486b-9485-24d96402e8e4/IMG_2240.png Queer Black Girl Poet - “Superwoman” - I bleed. I break. I cry. And someday I’ll die, just like everyone else. I was born a Black woman for a reason —for many reasons, really. I think God knew that only a Black woman could love the way I do. Only a Black woman could “handle it all” the way I do. Only a Black woman could nurture community the way I do. So, I was always destined to be a Black woman. But I also think God made me a Black woman to better understand the world I live in. I’m so independent because I I learned that the world will not soften for me. I’m so hardworking because I learned I have to do 10x as much work for a half-assed thank you. I’m so “put together” because this world does not allow me to fall apart. Instead, I am labeled “Superwoman.” An unsolicited badge of honor that really comes with no honor at all. Because I am often unappreciated and undervalued. Simply expected to live up to such high expectations because the world demands it. I am commended for powering through grief instead of breaking down. I am praised for crossing my boundaries to make someone else comfortable. I am celebrated for putting my life on the line despite having a family that needs me. People will say they are so in awe of how I “do it all” and demand something from me in the same breath. There are no days off for Superwoman. There is no rest for Black women. No wonder I am always tired. My grandma is a Black woman. My grandma is “Superwoman.” At 78, I see what the expectations have done to her. How they have stiffened her aching hands and permanently damaged her shoulders. That is what carrying the weight of the world will do to a Black woman’s body. At 29, I’m already experiencing the side-effects myself. Sleep deprivation, coffee addiction, anxiety, depression, a conscious desire to disappear just to get a break. My back aches some days, my chest tightens when I’m overwhelmed. But as a Black woman, I’ve accepted the symptoms of society and decided to live anyway. Some would call that rebellion, I call it survival. What other choice do I have? https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/liberation monthly 0.5 2025-07-04 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/creating-on-a-budget monthly 0.5 2025-05-03 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/anxious-uncertainty monthly 0.5 2025-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1737393262648-KETNAXXR30ZXFJPVRPOV/unsplash-image-Yka2yhGJwjc.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Anxiety-Riddled Uncertainty - I resigned. This past week I submitted my resignation from my position at work. Social work is just not what it used to be. It has always been stressful, it has always been mentally taxing, but I feel as though the emphasis is on paperwork and numbers more so than the people. I love making connections with kids and families. Even the ones that are difficult and need several reminders to complete things. But recently, the connections with families have been lost, placed on the back burner to completing paperwork by certain deadlines and prioritizing those deadlines over family circumstances. Caseloads are high. Changes are constant. Documentation is never-ending. This is not sustainable for me. As a creative, being tapped of my mental resources is detrimental to my art. There is already so much to life that takes away my time and concentration but having a job that depletes my mental capacity for creativity is unacceptable. It’s time for a change. And I won’t lie and say that I am confident in this transition or that I have the next steps all planned out. The truth is, I am anxious. Despite having savings, despite having a consistent work history on my resume, I am anxious about the future. So anxious at times that I feel stuck to my couch or my bed. Aimlessly scrolling social media to distract my mind from the “doom” thoughts taking over my head. In a perfect world, I would be able to live off my craft. My days could be spent writing new poetry and formatting poetry books. Maybe a few live readings here and there, but that is not my current reality. I am chasing that. In the meantime, I have to sacrifice my time working somewhere for a consistent paycheck. Because rent is high, groceries are high, gas prices are high, it is expensive to live! This is a reminder to take a deep breath. Hold it. And exhale slowly. Everything will work out as it’s supposed to, when it’s supposed to. To all creatives balancing work and creativity, I see you! I am you! Blessings on your path to self-sustained success. Photo by Ricky Kharawala, @sweetmangostudios https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/c7icc1a6pxfc485rl3oomee9i73nec monthly 0.5 2025-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/66ac448c-8409-4149-815d-7b53274ba6cf/TASTE.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - TASTE A New Year, a new creative venutre! I have always enjoyed poetry, but sensual poetry really is a love language. I’ve written sensual pieces here and there and even performed a few. I thought about publishing a book of sensual poetry but I was always scared to take that chance. In a lot of ways, speaking openly about sex is still taboo. Even if done so in an art form! That is crazy to me because sex is normal part of most people’s lives. Why not talk about it? Why not celebrate it? So, I decided to finally stop being scared. I’m publishing a taste of sensual poetry in a short-form sensual poetry book. And to add a cherry on top, it will be accompanied by an audiobook! I truly believe that adds to the sensual poetry experience. You can read along while listening to a sultry voice. If my readers really wanna spice it up, read along by candlelight in lingerie (or whatever feels sexy!) and with a lil somethin to sip on. There’s so many ways you could experience this poetry. I can’t wait for everyone to read and hear it! A sneak peek poem from TASTE is on the Poems page :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/re-centering monthly 0.5 2024-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/0a138a97-8883-4587-91ea-164a9e9aac6a/image_123650291+%2822%29.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - Re-Centering - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/make-peace-and-be-grateful monthly 0.5 2024-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/394a539a-beb9-4919-87dc-f98917fdf6ac/unsplash-image-Y3OrAn230bs.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Make Peace and Be Grateful - Make it stand out Photo by Gabrielle Henderson, @gabriellefaithhenderson https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/twenty-ate monthly 0.5 2024-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/24cc980f-fae3-4f70-a593-7f2f922ec404/image_123650291+%2819%29.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - What is Sensual/Erotic Poetry? - Sensual Poetry: poetry that refers to what is experienced through the senses in a favorable or literal way. Erotic Poetry: poetry that deals with transcendence and can titillate, turn on, and engage the imagination of the reader. This is an art form that is so deeply personal and extremely hard to do well. Not only are you creating sights, smells, feelings, etc. for your readers/audience, you are also doing so with finesse. I use sexual language in my sensual/erotic poetry but most of the time I challenge myself to use metaphors for sexual experiences. Sometimes, I don’t allow myself to use explicit sexual words at all. That, to me, is the poetry piece of sensual/erotic poetry. Anyone can write explicit sexual material, but not many can do so with tact and craft. Now, let’s add another layer: Visuals. I love this part of sensual/erotic poetry because you have to be so connected to and comfortable in your body to create visuals for this type of poetry. As a sexual assault survivor, this is incredibly empowering for me! My body is mine. I show as much, or as little, of it as I want to illustrate my poetry. An example of this is when I created my mini series of sensual/erotic poetry Body in Bloom (pictured to the right) using fresh flowers. I was completely naked behind the flowers and I chose how much skin I wanted to show. It depended on the image I wanted to create and how much I wanted to activate the readers/audience’s imagination. Creativity is key! Last layer I want to add: Performance. The tone and volume of your voice, pace of reading, emphasis on certain words, intentional pauses, etc. are HUGE to performing sensual/erotic poetry well. My goal is to always create a vibe. I envision sensual/erotic settings like candlelight dinners and strawberries & whipped cream to help me lean into a sexy delivery. If I’m performing with a mic, I might use my body to create imagery for my audience. Slide my hands across my curves, run my fingers through my hair, etc. It really is an exhilarating art form. Lean into your sensual/erotic side this weekend ;) *New poem on the Poems page* https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/1xffuvtmj1jrc8ke0cq6sq8gek607l monthly 0.5 2024-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1717944610614-E2ZC8P49695W4KCX8VTT/image-asset.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - PRIDE: Celebrating My Truth - As Pride Month comes to a close, I just want to reflect on what this month means to me. I always look forward to Pride Month, ever since I got to experience it firsthand the Summer before my freshman year of college. My first Pride was with my ex-girlfriend. We wore matching “Hers” T-Shirts with arrows pointing at each other and participated in the Pride March in Fort Wayne. Holding hands so publicly, engaging in PDA without fear, and just being able to celebrate my queerness was powerful for me. I didn’t want the feeling of empowerment to end. Fast forward to last year when I heard rumblings of the first Black Pride in Fort Wayne. I searched, Googled, and scrolled through social media to find the details. Once I found the Fort Wayne Black Pride Facebook page and saw the agenda posted, I knew immediately I was going to attend as many events as possible. Black Pride Fest in Kettler Park was incredible! Seeing so many Queer Black and Brown people celebrating together and cherishing a fest just for us brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of all the times I contemplated my existence and if I was wrong for being myself. Black Pride was confirmation that God protected my younger self to make sure I would live to see this day. And I’m so glad I did. This year, Pride Month of 2024, I hit the ground running. I worked tirelessly on getting materials for my brand, Queer Black Girl Poet, created and shipped for events I had later in the month. I used my voice to combat homophobia and pure ignorance on social media. I shared gay art, poetry, activism, and celebrations all over my stories and social feeds. I was also blessed with a few opportunities to educate Black youth on Queer identity and history in a way that was age-appropriate and comprehensive. Later in the month, I participated in a poetry reading at Hyde Brothers Booksellers. Giving the audience a taste of my queerness and life journey. Many were moved to tears and felt inspired by my raw honesty. I was just as moved by them listening to my pain and allowing it to transform them. Next, I set up shop at a local vendors fair, Southside Love Link-Up, to sell my books and promote my budding brand. Many people were glad I was speaking so openly about being a sexual assault survivor and many connections were made. I got the chance to speak to some high school cheerleaders about sexual assault and its effects. Many of them were unaware of sexual assault occurring in Queer spaces as well so I made sure to cover all my bases. I encouraged them to be safe and unashamed if they ever experienced this trauma. Each of them has my contact info and while I hope they are never sexually assaulted or violated, I am thankful they have at least one person they can call for support. Lastly, later on this afternoon, I will be performing poetry at a Black Pride Brunch. I’ve decided to share some sensual, Queer, and liberating poetry for this event. It’s a variety of poetry that encompasses the complexity of Queer identity. I can’t wait to just celebrate Black queerness in company with other Black and Queer People of Color. Happy Pride Month to ALL under this lovely Queer umbrella! And remember the celebrating happens all year long, this month is just the highlight ;) *New poem on the Poems page https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/2024-check-in monthly 0.5 2024-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1e78104a-f248-4ca4-ad5a-a227ef7b5c76/image_50730497.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - 2024 Check-In - We’re a quarter of the way through the year already. That’s crazy to think about because I swear I was just celebrating the New Year yesterday, lol. But the few months of this year have been very productive so far. From events to event coordination, from writing new poetry to performing poetry live and in the studio, ya girl has been booked & busy. And there is still so much on the way! While it’s great to have a busy schedule and a full plate, it’s also important for me to check-in with myself regularly to make sure I don’t get overwhelmed. I’m known for pouring EVERYTHING into other people’s cups and not pouring back into my own. Which is why I’ve gotten serious about my self-care and started journaling in the evening. It keeps me grounded. It gives me a true sense of peace. Find your own sense of peace this year and work on your own self-care. It’s important! New poem on the Poems page! :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/survivorhood monthly 0.5 2024-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/10077885-14c4-4121-9228-aba69cd699e4/IMG_9388.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - Survivorhood - It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years. 17-year-old Breanna would be so proud of the Breanna I am today because I pulled myself out of the trenches of trauma. Sexual assault is a difficult trauma to discuss. It often makes people lose eye contact with you, stiffen up, and distance themselves from the conversation because of how deeply personal it is to those affected. But I want to change the discourse around sexual assault. It needs to be talked about AND received so that survivors are heard, seen, and understood. So, I am hosting an event titled ‘Survivorhood: A Celebration of Healing’ to recognize my recovery as well as honor the healing survivors of all kinds experience. I hope to see you there! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/before-and-after monthly 0.5 2023-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/7b1776b2-ec74-49c0-bb6b-b4bbc7cfdaef/39A8B000-2B5C-45A4-8319-4873A788A963-1404-0000011C4BE93C65.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - Before and After My original logo needed something. I loved it when I first got it and it was the face of my blog for three years, but I felt it needed something added to it. I thought about it for a few days and designed the changes I wanted. I thought about doing a complete re-vamp and just keeping the name in the logo. But after some more thought I knew I could keep the original design, it just needed some life added to it. I reached out the the same graphic designer, located all the way in Pakistan, and asked her if she could make the changes. She was excited that I remembered her and was happy to make the updates. After adding a multi-layered skin tone, some hoops earrings, a lavender shirt, and removing the old tagline the logo became more vibrant. Another before and after in my life that I’m proud of! May you reach your happier, better ‘after.’ Check out a poem from my pending-release Out of the Deep on the Poems page! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/thank-god-for-therapy monthly 0.5 2023-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1699152446301-R4GSA6KDR78EVVNT9FUJ/image-asset.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - Thank God for Therapy - Timelines being lengthened. Deadlines passing by. Adjustment after adjustment after adjustment needing to be made. My heart rate is increasing as I write this because even thinking about my next book makes me anxious. I’m afraid of disappointing my readers, disappointing my family, disappointing myself, and really afraid of disappointment in general. I put so much pressure on myself. An unhealthy coping mechanism I learned from childhood. This shit is deeply ingrained. Like, if I say I’m going to accomplish something by a certain time, I have to do it. Regardless of what life throws at me. *Inhale…exhale* Now, I’m leaning into my therapeutic coping mechanisms: First of all, GIRL!, you were working 2 jobs and pulling 16 hour workdays for months in a row to make ends meet. You reworked your financial budget, cancelled your Mexico trip, and got serious about saving. You pay 1000% of your own shit. Rent, car note, electric, gas bill, etc. Everything! In a piss-poor economy where the price of gas, groceries, rent, is fucking skyrocketing. That’s some tough shit, yet you still do it. Secondly, GIRL!, the past year has been rough. A lot of the content in this next book has to do with this past year. So, it’s understandable that some of it is hard to write about and some things may need to wait for another book. That is okay! There is plenty of writing to be done. And lastly, GIRL!, you deal with mentally draining mental health diagnoses DAILY that make functioning through life difficult. You get out of bed, even when it feels like you can’t. You make shit happen, even when your mind only sees failure. Survivorhood looks good on you! And you will continue to push through. *Inhale…exhale* Thank God for therapy. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/grown-woman monthly 0.5 2023-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/ccac7134-af4f-483e-b6c6-0dee2ee14c89/Grown+Woman.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - Grown Woman - Now at 27, I am still young but also quite grown. I’m reaching a point in my mental and emotional maturity that feels great. I’m becoming more appreciative of my own company. And I notice that I’m less concerned about being in a relationship. I value human connection, but no longer crave the “extras” that come with it, like sex and affection. Which may seem astounding since I am a very affectionate and sexual person. I’ve always been someone who prioritizes genuine connection over sexual attraction, but at times I have rushed into a “situationship” out of loneliness. Even writing that makes me cringe. But you live and you learn. As we move into the colder months of the year, aka “cuffing season” lol, my focus is on me and my poetry. I will continue to explore the connections I’ve made with other people and keep myself open to new connections, but I won’t force anything. If it waters me, I will nurture it. If it drains me, I will cut it off. Writing that makes me smile and I can hear my therapist saying “I know that’s right!” in my head. I’ve come too far in my healing and growth journey to go backwards for the sake of a man, woman, or person in general. Because I value my peace and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. Cheers to self-love and grown womanhood. New poem on the Poems page :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/tired monthly 0.5 2023-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/7d3457ef-7ddf-4312-8f43-b0f7fa3fb309/IMG-6401.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - Tired - You carry it all on your own Way too much is on your mind But nobody knows, no 'Cause nobody asks, yeah You don't like havin' to wait on no one else Girl, they always seem to disappoint you Ooh, I know what you think when no one's around There's no else to blame or let you down When you're tired -dvsn — Tired I’ve been listening to this song on loop. It highlights how I feel. Highlights things I think. I’m tired. I wrote a post back in May titled “Isolation Period” where I said I was gonna take a break from dating and love-life shit and blah blah blah. It was bullshit. It’s always bullshit because I’m always running from the true problem: I hate being alone. I’m scared to be alone because I don’t know how to be alone. Let’s break this down. I know how to live alone, (I actually really enjoy having my own apartment and having my own space!) but I’m scared to be alone in a social sense. I miss having local friends to go out with and I miss having a local partner to go on dates with every so often. So, to cope, I entertain people, feelings, situations, when I shouldn’t. I convince myself I’m “ready” for people, feelings, situations, when I’m not. It always comes crashing down. Always. And at the end of the day, people get hurt. Not just me. Now, let’s dig a little deeper. My hometown is not the same for me anymore since the breakup with my ex. I’m no longer happy living here. There’s too many memories and reminders of heartbreak. I never wanted to stay in my hometown forever, but I loved it a lot more when I was living with my ex because he was my best friend. We did everything together. But he’s always had more friends and family here. So, when we broke up I lost him and his village. That was tough. And I still haven’t fully recovered from that loss. Moving forward I am really trying to do better and to be more intentional with my healing. No more timelines, no more expectations. Just focusing on moving on with my life and pursuing my passions. Alone. *Inhale* …*Exhale* New poem on the Poems page https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/happy-anniversary monthly 0.5 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/d369db77-cc10-46a1-8e32-6102c00982f5/IMG_4672.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Happy Anniversary! - One year ago, on May 14, 2022, I published my first poetry book. This book, If Tears Could Talk, will forever be my creative baby. The writing journey alone was an emotional rollercoaster. Some days I was self-confident and others I was caught up in self-doubt, but I pushed through the negativity to accomplish a life goal. And I am so, so elated to be able to say, “I did it!” Join me in celebrating the one-year-anniversary of my first book! Yes, it is still for sale on Amazon. Click the button below to get a copy :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/isolation-period monthly 0.5 2023-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1683426937736-0SDEVBLHJBNZAGS1RHHI/unsplash-image-xl2piFfdzyA.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Isolation Period - *Deep Sigh* Let’s just say I’ve been careless with my feelings and my heart recently. I’ve gotten swept up in my emotions while ignoring the logic screaming in my face to run and get away from certain situations and certain people. I ask myself “Why the fuck do I do this?” to understand why I don’t give a fuck about my own feelings and risk my heart getting harmed every single time. Truth is, ever since the split from my ex-fiancé, I’ve been floating through spaces and absorbing the sunshine in them, even if only temporary, to escape the darkness I fear. But that bullshit is done. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. More times than not, I am the one who is hurt. Fuck that. I’m taking a hiatus from dating, sex, and all things romance for a few months. I need to focus on my writing and pouring back into myself because so much has been taken from me. And I’m tired of being robbed. Check out the Poems page for two new poems! Photo by Josh Nuttall, @jjnuttall https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/bham-trip monthly 0.5 2023-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/fd62ed72-102f-4888-8e7a-ba771b3c843a/Bham+Trip+Collage+Photo.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - B’ham Trip - My trip to Birmingham, AL was a good one. I was there for about a week. Yet, with everything that was packed into that timeframe the time flew by. I traveled down there to meet a woman I was interested in dating. Although that part did not end up working out, I am grateful to her for showing me so many sites and taking me to get good coffee every day! Days 1-2 we stayed local. I tried Cheesecake Factory for the first time and was very much impressed. The tiramisu cheesecake was definitely the highlight of the night. We went to the McWane Science Center and I loved the interactive exhibits. They reminded me of the interactive science museums I went to as a kid. Day 3 we traveled to Montgomery, AL to visit the Legacy Museum and Memorial Gardens. This was the most impactful part of the trip. It was a day full of Black trauma, but the way the museum honored the lives of my ancestors and memorialized their legacy was beautiful. Incredibly done and very powerful. I learned so much more about enslavement, lynchings, and mass incarcerations. I recommend any and every one to make a trip to the Legacy Museum at some point. Check out the button at the bottom of this post for more information about the Legacy Museum! We ended the night with a drive in movie—my first drive in movie experience! It was pretty great. We went to the MASSIVE Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Day 4 and wow! there was a lot to see. So many gardens within a garden. The greenery just went on for miles and miles. My favorite garden was the Japanese Garden because of the structures and huge pond in the middle. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed wandering through nature. That evening we went out to dinner and stopped by a gay bar afterwards. Being in that gay space was another highlight of the trip. So much shade being thrown and laughter galore. I mean it when I say, I feel most at home with my queer family in spaces created for us <3 Back on the road again for Day 5. This time to Huntsville, AL to visit the Space & Rocket Center. We chopped it up with a rocket scientist for a while and got some firsthand insight to some of the challenges NASA and space engineers have faced over the the years. There was a little boy who was walking around in his blue spacesuit so excited that he graduated Space Camp! What an honor to be able to congratulate him on such an accomplishment! After the space museum we drove downtown to spend some time at Big Spring Park. This park was a sight to see! Beautiful grounds and lovely water features throughout the park. The picture in the bottom left of the collage is me on one of the bridges that expanded over an ever flowing river that runs through the heart of the park. Lastly, we went to The Vulcan in downtown B’ham to get experience the vantage point of the city. Since we went at night, we got to see the city’s skyline lit up in lights. What a vision! Oh—and we took the stairs up instead of the elevator. Got our exercise in, lol. Day 6 was a lowkey day. We grabbed brunch at Flying Biscuit (S/O to Sage for the top tier flight of mimosas!), explored a local Tradarius Johnson’s (Trader Joe’s, lol), and visited some watering holes off the beaten path. It was tranquil out there by those watering holes. A serene scene of trees and water currents. We found some rocks to skip and spent some time just taking in the fresh air. Afterward, we stopped by a cat café, Gatos & Beans. Of course I had all the cats going crazy with a few toys. My favorite cat was Sally. She was a wild 10 month old kitten that reminded me of my booboo ShaQuay. If I could’ve taken her back home with me, I would’ve! I really only had the morning of Day 7 to spend in the city before heading to the airport. We stopped to grab coffee at a coffee shop called Santos and the coffee was fantastic! I spent some time reflecting on the trip while waiting to board my flight. Although the ending was bittersweet, I enjoyed my stay and I’m glad I got to see so much in so few days. There were more sites, food, and adventures mixed in the trip but I think this is a good synopsis of what I experienced. Cheers to traveling in 2023! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/back-to-myself monthly 0.5 2023-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/d025a937-b032-4f11-990a-86b92f2b2f48/IMG_3800.jpeg Queer Black Girl Poet - Back to Myself Looking back on my first released book, If Tears Could Talk, I was inspired to write again. This self-reflection led me to a deep-dive into vulnerability. A place I am no longer afraid to venture into with my poetry. Vulnerability is my everflowing creative spring. Once I tap into it, poetry flows out of me. The past 8 months have been some of the worst I’ve lived, from a mental and emotional point of view. But this time away has done me some good. It has given me a chance to find myself again and to write authentically. In a way, the separation I feared most relieved me in the best of ways. I’m not just existing anymore, I’m living. Every day is not perfect, but I’m grateful for the fuck ups along the way. I’m just happy to be getting back to myself. May the writing never stop. Cheers. Check out the Poems page for a new poem! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/a-new-story-to-write monthly 0.5 2022-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1662913576283-V0WS35UO5ON401GJ6AG7/unsplash-image-Im93gzsDbf4.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - A New Story to Write Wow. It’s been a while since I posted so I have some book updates and a life update to share. First, my book has done really well in terms of sales and overall reaction to the content. I have had overwhelming support from friends, family, and strangers alike. This whole experience has really helped me grow and it continues to inspire me to write book #2. I have many, many ideas for this next book but I haven’t decided on a theme just yet. You’ll have to stick around and wait for that ;) Second, I am working on a project related to If Tears Could Talk that I’m hoping to have completed by the time book #2 is ready to be published (so around July 2023!). It’s a very exciting project and I wish I could say more about it, but I cannot ruin this surprise. I just can’t. Just stay tuned for updates I post on my social media and here on my blog. Lastly, I am dealing with the worst time of my life. This is not an exaggeration, it’s my current reality. My best friend of 14 years, partner of 5 years, and fiancé of 1.5 years and I are no longer together. We are officially cutting ties so he can discover himself and figure out his path in life. As much as I am trying to be understanding of his need for self-discovery, I am also completely shattered and heartbroken. This is the person I proposed to and hoped to have a family with in the future. We were looking at houses, planning a wedding, and just looking forward to our forever future. Man, did forever come quick. I’m cycling through many difficult emotions and unfortunately this is impacting my creative process and my ability to post on my blog so I appreciate your patience as I start this new, unexpected chapter in my life story. I know I’ll be okay, it’s just going to take time. Check out the Poems page for a sample poem from book #2. It’s raining here today so the poem fits the vibe :) Photo by Hello I’m Nik (@helloimnik) from the Unsplash photo database. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/behind-the-scenes-makeshift-book monthly 0.5 2022-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/d68a449f-6690-48b3-81bb-ff7acac37bea/422E47ED-39EC-49FD-A925-2650FE6C1F12-4417-000000546ADC65F2.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Behind the Scenes: Makeshift Book - Make It Work with Mod Podge! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get an Author’s Copy of my book for the promo pictures I wanted to take before my big launch. So what did I do? I printed off a few copies of my book cover. After cutting and piecing together a cover that looked similar to the actual paperback cover I glued it to one of my proof books. Why couldn’t I just use a proof for the photos? Well, the proofs had a watermark that wrapped around the book that said “Not for Resale” so I wouldn’t be able to take pictures with a proof without the watermark being all in the way. After I glued the printed cover to the proof book, I painted Mod Podge all over the makeshift book to give it some type of gloss. Even with all this extra work, my book still looked washed out, but I was able to get some good shots of the book from the promo shoot. As you can see from the side-by-side the actual paperback has very vibrant colors on its own. No Mod Podge needed! When you’re passionate about a project your hustle never fails! I was pushed to my limits with getting this book out and advertising it. But I mean it when I say I would ABSOLUTELY do it all over again! https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/behind-the-scenes-photo-backdrop monthly 0.5 2022-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/7c1fe6fe-e9e5-49f0-9e86-ac42de51eb30/00AA7F9D-FFE1-436B-B738-4181115E4598-878-00000052AC44244D.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Behind the Scenes: Photo Backdrop - PVC Piping for the Win! I looked up a DIY for a photo backdrop on YouTube and came across a webpage that showed me step by step how to make a 5’x7’ photo backdrop. I had no idea that you could use PVC piping to create a photo backdrop structure. It was definitely cheaper than buying one online so I went with this DIY method. I swear my arms got swole af from sawing through the PVC pipes! It was definitely a workout that was worth the results. There’s just nothing like building/creating something with your own hands. In my opinion you value it more because you know the time and energy you used to create it. This is your sign to build and/or create something and make it your own :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/if-tears-could-talk monthly 0.5 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/acc71634-de73-4074-953a-84c23cc5acc3/2ABE358C-A937-4210-BC29-4555E6B884A4-2683-000012BC2BB8DC7D.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - If Tears Could Talk - May 14, 2022 will go down in my history book as the day I followed through on my promise to my younger self. This will forever be the day, I made my writing dreams come true! This journey has not been easy. I spent thousands of my own money to create, find editing services, promote, and publish this book. Not to mention the countless evenings I spent conceptualizing promo ideas and going out after work to find tools and materials for every single thing I would need. This has been a trying time but in the best way because this process pushed me creatively in ways I never imagined it would. Honestly, I can’t wait to do this all again when I publish book #2 :) I know I have to give you all time to read my book so, in the meantime I will be posting “behind the scenes” content right here on my blog to give you an idea of the leaps and bounds I had to make to get to this point. Feel free to browse my posts from time to time as you read! And don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts on my book via the Contact Me tab in the top left corner of this blog or by leaving reviews on Amazon! Also, big SHOUTOUT to my momma for taking the pictures you see on this post! She did THAT! *Snaps in zigzag* https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/the-countdown monthly 0.5 2022-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/a32cf951-0313-480a-8e61-6eeab485de74/7E5D09E4-E433-4D71-9522-50C479951F49-70123-00000ECAB2DC92E8.JPG Queer Black Girl Poet - The Countdown! - I can hardly contain my excitement! We are officially 5 days away from the launch/publishing of If Tears Could Talk. I’ve received so much love ever since I made my announcement three weeks ago. It warms me up inside and I cannot thank everyone enough for the outpouring of support. As of right now, my book will be available for purchase through online purchasing only. However, I am still working out the possibility of getting up to 50 copies (to start) available for in-person purchase as I know not everyone may have access to online purchasing. This is an option that will most likely be available sometime in July. I will keep you posted ;) Follow my social media stories throughout this week for final information regarding purchasing. Snapchat: grinerfanatic42 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/balance monthly 0.5 2022-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/bc0bb346-9a0b-4b01-8cc3-9f21505f8c35/9A308998-B7C3-4435-835A-F90094254FF7-35493-000007883723B63F.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Balance - I adventured out into the Garden of the Gods with some friends from college during our Girls Trip. We came across this marvel of sandstone called “Balanced Rock.” It stands 35 feet tall, weighing 140 million pounds and yet it balances on a a very small connecting base. This boggled my mind. How could this giant rock balance its enormous weight on such a small base area? It got me thinking about the enormous weight each of us carries through our daily lives, trying to find a way to balance it all. There are times when balance seems inconceivable but just like this rock, it is possible to defy the odds to find your own form of balance. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/the-deliberation-process monthly 0.5 2022-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/7734a132-6f14-497d-8f33-345b16518877/21D37FA5-8260-44C0-8D73-BB0211602886-16487-0000046B68B39077.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Careful Consideration - This was the hardest yet most therapeutic part of creating my book. Sitting on my living room floor with all my pieces laid out was a deeply personal moment. I was physically touching the words of my story. My story that I was afraid of telling, my story that was stowed away in notebooks and journals for over a decade. But now here I was reviewing each piece and reminding myself of my incredible journey to healing. Hours and hours passed by but I didn’t even notice because I was laser-focused on my end goal of shaping a cohesive recollection of my life for readers to follow. Each piece was placed with careful consideration. I just can’t wait for you to hold it in your hands and savor each piece of my story. The pictures are blurred for obvious reasons ;) if you look close enough you can see my cat, ShaQuay, supervising me and keeping my on track. Check out the Poems page for another sample poem from my book :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/coming-may-14th monthly 0.5 2022-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1a7e3d8e-9b75-463b-978d-956eef6dddfd/Ebook.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - COMING MAY 14TH! The journey to creating this book has not been an easy one. Several times I questioned its validity and its worth. Was telling my story really worth it? Who would care to read about me? Questions like these bounced around in my mind as I tried to focus on creating my book. It was only when I read through my work, piece by piece, that I felt the full impact of what I had created, what I had crafted from fragile memories. I realized how life-changing this process was for me as I reflected on my own growth and strength. While this process opened old wounds for myself and my family it also opened doors to conversations about traumas we had locked away years ago. It brought clarity to misunderstandings and closeness to distant relationships. In a nutshell, this book has done wonders for my healing and I cannot wait for you all to read it. These are my tears, this is my story. Check out the Poems page for a sample poem from my book :) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/letter-to-my-mother monthly 0.5 2022-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/93be23af-1999-4da2-982f-5618abf59b06/IMG-2588-Original.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Letter to My Mother Mom, It’s hard to describe the gut-wrenching pain I feel when you stare into space. Wondering. Wishing. Thinking. Or when you question yourself as a mother. I meant it with every fiber of my being when I said you were the best mother I could ever hope for, the greatest woman to raise me into the woman I am today. I have watched you move mountains for me and my siblings. Fight tooth and nail to give us the opportunities you never had. You have done more than enough. And you are more than enough for me as a mother. I think back to the nights you were exhausted from working all day and yet you always put food on the table. You made everyone else’s plate before making your own. Sacrificed the chance to rest your aching body to give me back rubs until I fell asleep. You sacrificed well-deserved sleep to listen to me go on and on about things I didn’t even remember the next week. You have always been a good listener. I remember nights of sitting in between your knees at the couch while you worked miracles on my tender-headed locks. Never stopping even when your wrists were hurting, and your fingers begged for a break. Because you wanted me to feel beautiful. And I always wanted to be as beautiful as you. I would watch as your hair cascaded down your back and the coconut oil glistened on your curls. I just knew I would be as beautiful as you one day. Not just outside, but also as beautiful as your heart. You’ve given everything for me and my siblings. You’ve helped strangers with many a favor. I’ve watched you take on more than your job duties all in the name of goodness. The goodness that resides in you and will forever be a part of you. Because you have a heart of gold and a wonderful soul. You are the quintessential mother, the greatest of the great. I hope you feel that in your bones. I hope it warms you inside. You deserve to be acknowledged and this letter is just that, an acknowledgement. Of the unconditional love, joy, and inspiration that you have poured into me for nearly twenty-four years. It’s the least I could do—the rock bottom least. And if God will make it so, I will give you everything, and more, that you deserve. If only I could lasso the sun for you, I would because you already lassoed the moon for me. I hope God aligns the stars to create your very own constellation when your body leaves this Earth so I can continue to look up to you the way I always have. But we still have many, many, many years before that time will come, and I thank God for every day I am blessed with your presence in my life. I would truly be lost without you. Thank you for the guidance and wisdom you have instilled in me. I hope to reflect that with my own children one day and pass on your legacy of love. I love you, Mom, with every beat of my heart. Your daughter forever and for always, Pooh https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/unbelievable monthly 0.5 2020-12-27 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/dc2wdfamjobbm3oje0t4cai4zihjz8 monthly 0.5 2021-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1609040677781-Y06073I9WULKY2X9KIET/115797333_10217098538039005_3212588638772745061_n.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Year 24 God has blessed me with another year of life! Cheers to 24 years! This year was my ‘golden’ birthday, too, because I turned 24 on the 24th of July! *Cues Golden by Jill Scott* I’m looking forward to this chapter of my life story. If you would’ve asked me 10 years ago where I would be now, I would’ve told you I’d be married with kids and going to school to become a pediatrician. Welp, none of those things have happened, lol. I’m not rushing marriage or kids (at all!) and I have a new career path. I’m in my second year of a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and loving it so far! I just moved into my first apartment, my very own space that I can enjoy and somewhere I can entertain guests. I do love having company but I am also starting to appreciate and value alone time for the first time in my life. I guess that kind of awareness comes with each year that passes. In short, I am officially 24 and this will be my Golden Year! I am manifesting this until next year when God blesses me with my quarter-century year! *Live everyday like it’s golden* https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/lir9rbgsfxz97e6vgojl8nh7dfey3u monthly 0.5 2020-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1609040079491-H1H7V2CE5E6Z3QT142HY/Phresh+Laundy+Artwork.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Blessed to be Black To be Black is a blessing. Always a blessing. Never a curse. Never will I despise God for painting my skin a cool caramel tone. Never have I, nor will I, ever wish my Blackness away. Black skin is oh so beautiful. Every shade, from the lightest of light to the darkest of dark, is dripping with diamonds and gold. Black hair is regal. Natural crowns placed upon our heads by God. I comb and brush my kinky tresses, but never tame them. They were met to be free, reaching for the sun like my ancestors on the slave ships grasping at light between the wooden boards of the main deck. Black culture is rich. Why else would others emulate it? Rich with laughter, rich with joy, rich with love. It is why we never age. It is how we grow fruit to nourish future generations. How else could we have survived this long? My Blackness is the greatest gift I could ever receive. Thank you, God, for adorning my being with Black skin, Black hair, Black culture. Thank you for creating me in the likeness of my ancestors. I cannot fathom a more perfect lineage. Photo taken by Jerris Franklin https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/mourning-morning monthly 0.5 2020-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1609036727993-9MOH2QGLJZXC8ZK0MPFY/healing.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Mourning Morning? I recently found out that my maternal grandfather passed away. Many would see this as a sad event. Many would shed a tear. But I don’t feel anything for him. He was not a good man. I have no emotional ties to him…unless anger and disgust count? I am angry that he didn’t apologize to my mom for everything he did. Closure is bullshit, but she at least deserved reasons for his actions and a chance to recover from her childhood trauma. So, I’m not mourning him. I am mourning my mom’s lost opportunity to get answers and the connection with her dad that she craved. For that I can never forgive him. My mom deserves better and I hope to God she can find that within herself. I plan to burn some sage and play some healing frequencies to help my mom begin her healing journey. Pray for us, send positive vibes, but most importantly mourn the losses you refuse to acknowledge. Begin the healing process for your own sake. Give yourself the better you deserve. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/ud889bnue642hanqqktjqbgf5hvziz monthly 0.5 2020-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1609036484143-CGCQ8JZ6V899K8MX5R6D/18157647_10209049532098887_1450327452116115509_n.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet “Is that your real hair? ... Can I touch your hair? ... That's so ghetto ... No offense but Black girls aren't my type ... I thought gay girls secretly wanted dick ... Wait, you're gay?! Do you think I'm cute? Would you fuck me? ... Why would a woman ever be president? ... Bitches always complain about cramps, just get on birth control if it's that bad ... You're pretty cool for a dyke ... So, you've never wanted dick? Like ever?! ... Are you having chicken at your graduation party? ... Geez you're bitchy today, is it that time of the month? ... I need 2 forms of ID ... Don't all Black people smoke [weed]? ... 2 girls can't have sex! There's no dick! ... She's only wearing that for attention ... All Lives Matter ...” —Microaggression, the list goes on https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/lonely monthly 0.5 2020-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1609007984279-GIGE4FS10WWFO0JHCIHS/IMG_0024_Original.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - Lonely… Explaining my loneliness to my boyfriend was difficult. I could tell from his crestfallen expression that he was defeated. Tough conversations just have to be had sometimes. I love him with every ounce of my being. My boyfriend is my life partner. I am certain of this, I just know it to be true. But the desire to have a connection with other queer Black women forever lingers in the inner most crevices of my brain. A platonic connection, a friendship with someone (or a group of people) who understands me because that person experiences similar situations in everyday life. I understand that validation must come from within. I believe self-love and self-appreciation is the key to mental peace. But I also know feeling validated, heard, understood, respected by someone else is comforting. It is imperative to my survival as an individual with intersectional identities. My boyfriend has made great efforts to provide validation and respect for my queerness, he really has, but I do think it is hard for him to step into my shoes and to care about the issues that are important to me because they are not issues he deals with. There’s only so many podcasts I can listen to, only so many books I can read, only so many Twitter and Instagram profiles of queer Black women I can follow. Nothing compares to an in-person connection with someone, a friend you can vent to, rely on, cry with, and understand. You see, I’ve felt this loneliness for most of my life. A lot of people don’t understand it. When I got the chance to finally have that connection with another girl like me, she took advantage of my vulnerability. I gave up hope on finding a genuine connection. But now that I’m secure in my love for my boyfriend, I feel I’m ready to stop being lonely and have a friend who looks like me, hurts like me, advocates like me. I can be patient. I know it will happen, it just might take time. To live as a woman takes patience. To live as a queer person takes confidence. To live as a Black person takes strength. To live as all three takes everything you have, and then some… yet I take the risk to simply live. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/ssv3b2meuhzlbywqvmnw8y9bmokjwa monthly 0.5 2020-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608754607811-QGIKC4YHHQXDZELMW69N/ALL+Black+Lives+Matter.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - All Black Lives Credit: Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/queerblackgirlpoet/my-time-is-now monthly 0.5 2020-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608750083154-IOXZWTT19Z3G1OMP1LJ0/IMG_0037_Original.jpg Queer Black Girl Poet - My Time is Now! Finally! I’m committing to my passion and following through. I tried to create a blog before this one, but I lost motivation and abandoned it. The drive just wasn’t there and other life circumstances got in the way. Every now and then I revisit it just to remind myself of the problems I dealt with a few years ago. The problem with that blog was that I was attempting to complete a 100 Happy Days challenge after a bad breakup with my ex-girlfriend. I just knew that it was going to help heal my broken heart. But it didn’t. I just knew that I would commit to posting once a day every day. But I didn’t. I struggled to get 10 days documented because I was using the blog as a way to ignore my feelings and distract myself. I really needed to devote time and energy into myself and my mental well-being. These past few years I have done a lot of self-exploration. I spent some time sitting with my depression and processing through my trauma in therapy. Some days I get overwhelmed and tend to fall into negative thoughts, but I try my best to express my emotions through my poetry. Other days I am extremely joyful and thankful for this headache called life because every breath is a blessing. I think I am now in a place to fully commit to a blog and I am not afraid to be vulnerable with the world anymore. Writing, blogging, typing your story can be so empowering because it is your story to tell. I just can’t wait to get started. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-01-06 https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/about daily 0.75 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/ffddc909-f66a-4c77-a1db-58edc73f641f/IMG_1017.jpg Creating my own poetic justice - A Safe Space. No one tells you that life is going to be difficult. No one prepares you for the realities of rejection, disgust, and hatred you will face simply for existing. I am a queer Black woman simply existing in this world. The B is capitalized because that is the first thing people use to judge me, to make up their minds about who I am and how I act. I am a queer black Woman simply existing in this world. The W is capitalized because my gender, my clothing, my body is constantly policed. I am to believe that I do not belong to myself. I am a Queer black woman simply existing in this world. The Q is capitalized because I no longer hide my pride. For years it was shoved away in a closet, but now I am not ashamed to wear my true colors publicly. It is a risk to simply live. To survive you have to find your safe spaces. Or in some cases, create them. I have designed this blog to tell my story, to invite you to explore my journey with me. I hope you find comfort in my words. I hope this can be a safe space for you. https://www.queerblackgirlpoet.com/poems daily 0.75 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/4897daff-2465-479b-9738-88003bf514f4/IMG_1905.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/ea979101-7feb-410b-b2ef-696c3b9f6df0/IMG_6053.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/6b7be935-47ec-4842-a072-c62cb5247637/88FCBC9E-7E60-4084-8E76-306AC974CB72.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/4a44a806-c0a7-4033-9842-e695893e3513/Gold+and+White+Luxury+Background+Instagram+Post.zip+-+1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/36f14df7-c109-43c0-b65d-0a23f8b83eff/Gold+and+White+Luxury+Background+Instagram+Post.zip+-+1+%281%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/34c08070-6291-45cf-ac3e-1cb513b04930/Gold+and+White+Luxury+Background+Instagram+Post.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/4db1e1c2-89f9-41d0-b6c8-1c7ed6954752/IMG_9007.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/23c15e3c-9e0d-4e5f-a692-edfc044855fc/IMG_6027.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/a29e5a94-5f11-43d9-aaf2-1f27e8572531/image_123650291+%2823%29.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1725294471968-V6XKB41ITUCQYSJD9DH4/unsplash-image-cUz6Nfi6tBY.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/dd93e77c-6922-40e5-b955-6f86462db317/image_123650291+%2820%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/2093bd51-a164-4d1d-8d33-1c9139a0381c/Ebook+%281%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1711901334229-0YFAXR7K064DLAR6KLFU/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/ac347564-a575-46c2-9d46-8f7c0fe0402b/IMG_9244.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/0c61edba-8921-4ad3-86df-1ffb809b22c0/IMG_3413.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/09b8b17a-edc2-4fa1-bf66-90500c59f7cd/ShaBooBoo.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/59c63e2d-c64c-4e42-9744-a95a0157aa8b/image-asset.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1694962926442-EMA679FMK2PP5OIKL0UI/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1691288029465-2HMMB6CFL4Y1XL9BV1P7/image-asset.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/803e6282-6d41-4d6d-aea6-795534f5d8dc/IMG_4784.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/4101909c-aec0-4ce4-ad59-e7d7da75ffbe/IMG-4671.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1683429484334-SL5962QI0316P1T1MA8O/unsplash-image-NBiiX7aP0Yw.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1683429051174-JEBENVJBWW8Y4I1TXWAA/unsplash-image-AtQoiUN_w1s.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1679436078906-55OAL9FQPJYIMM9R8K4M/unsplash-image-1xCLDorbY04.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1662911549301-XHMTD65SVX9O92WEJBF6/unsplash-image-tOCut3y_42U.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1651277350952-4X3LSGR95BM0KE88L7ZP/unsplash-image-05bUIDZovKg.jpg Poems Sometimes wading through the murkiest of waters leads you to the clarity you needed to realize what matters most. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/19816dd1-4203-4e0e-b7e3-cd52fe846a3d/unsplash-image-xgsbOPIx75I.jpg Poems - Stranger in My Own Home (Sample Poem #2) I avoid mirrors, windows, and glass. I don’t want to see the girl staring back at me. I won’t recognize the body standing there in the reflection. I won’t recognize the limbs weighed down with shame. I don’t want to catch sight of my unfamiliar frame. I don’t want to face the reality of being a stranger in my own home. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Click the button below to learn more about this month and to find resources for sexual assault survivors. Photo by Mathilda Khoo (@mcthilda) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/be113ec6-789e-4cdb-9a3a-ade010714c87/Mockup.jpg Poems - Fulfilled (Sample Poem) I quit school, for now. I left my job because of the stress. I dropped my responsibilities to focus on my passion, poetry and prose. And I must admit, I have never felt more fulfilled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608752566006-KKWPRUBTCVGKE1SBTZKO/rain.jpg Poems - I wish it would rain. Sometimes I crave the overcast sky weeping its tears. The smell is mesmerizing, it is growth, pain, and healing all in one. I slip on a sweatshirt and sip coffee from my favorite coffee mug to watch the rain c r a w l its way down the windows of my home. I hear the fears of the clouds rumbling through the sky, watch as they explode into flashes of light. Stepping onto my balcony I immerse myself in Nature’s beauty. I feel the tranquil coolness of the puddles under my hands. I breathe in the freshness of the air and close my eyes to sync my breath to the rhythm of the rainfall. When it rains I feel jubilant. When it rains I feel whole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608751172791-TTUNEXZ0P23OPI0A7VOE/flower+from+concrete.png Poems - Healing Is…Healing Isn’t I learned the hard way that healing isn’t writing “FUCK YOU” letters at 3AM. Or pretending that my rapist didn’t exist. Although I wish she was only a myth, I know she is very real. Healing isn’t putting on a good face to mask my true emotions. But to be honest, I’m afraid that once I start crying I won’t be able to stop. Healing isn’t keeping busy, so you’ll have other things on your mind, or shutting people out because you “don’t have the time” to let them in. Healing is the sigh of relief after a breakthrough in my counselor’s office. It’s the ink of the pages in my poetry book— raw emotions and patience. Patience is key. Healing is baked sugar cookies fresh from the oven. Warm like the laughter shared between friends. Friends so dear to my heart because they unknowingly ease my pain. Healing is hugging my sister’s baby boys and feeling protected by their unconditional love. And cuddling up on the couch as we watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Being an auntie is such a blessing. Healing is consensual sex with a trusted lover and their reassuring embrace after a night terror so vivid I swore I was back in February 2014… Healing is knowing it’s okay to not be okay and that relapses happen so stop apologizing for the things you can’t control—focus on the things you can. Healing is the courage to call myself a survivor because surviving takes strength and I am strong. Healing for me is sharing my story so that other survivors know they are not alone. Healing is the hopeful flower that sprouted from the concrete. I am that flower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608750659976-IY7PZF4DN5IRP22WBQD9/empty%2Bcup2.jpg Poems - Pouring from An Empty Cup My body is a cup— not half empty, not half full— just empty. I pour out until the last drop, leaving nothing for myself. It’s a miracle my heart has not stopped beating from running myself ragged for others— always for others, always running from myself. Too tired to heal, too tired to care for me; constantly dehydrated. What will it take to quench my own thirst? for self-love for self-respect. When will I become my top priority? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edfaafdb39a7664fb919fe7/1608259476945-J1T6RY2PU7YP4JSCAGST/image-asset.jpeg Poems - Blank Page There is nothing more frustrating than staring at a blank piece of paper and hoping the pen will work miracles out of empty thoughts. This poem always brings me back to the beginning of it all. The blank page before the words are put to paper. The creative process is a frustratingly beautiful thing. The longer you stare at a blank page, the more opportunity you have to formulate your words and to assess the impact you want them to have. A blank page is just that, a blank page. What you fill it with is up to you.