Happy National Poetry Month and Happy Earth Day! When you keep showing up and unexpectedly earn titles like best female director for animation, poet laureate, and griot, it's life affirming in the month of April. Check out my acceptance speech at Poppy Jasper and my interview on the Jazzline at KPFA 94.1 FM. Last year [...]
I just facilitated a workshop at local community center and I recited this poem for people who were experiencing writer's block. The number one tip is to remember why you write. Do you find inspiration in every sunrise, every tear, every laugh? This poem is for you! I write to heal, to inspire, to [...]
Greetings and welcome to my poetic planet, My last blog was written to publicly praise two legends who broke barriers on the Billboard country charts recently, Tracy Chapman and Beyonce. However, this one is a public critique of the most decorated Grammy winner of all time, and my intention is to urge Beyonce to [...]
Welcome to my poetic planet! Greetings I'm still waging peace through poetry and representing multi-talented artivists, educators and empaths, who believe words and dialogue matters. Before I share a new poem celebrating more harmony and Black History in 2024, let's congratulate Beyonce Knowles, in the spirit of ujima or collective work! Aaaa, yes that's me [...]
This National Loving Day, I'm honored to partner with the Institute for Contemporary Art, San Jose for the release of my Digital Love Letters project, and a corresponding short film, with the same title. During 2012 to 2014, Steve and I aka SteVenus experienced living in a long-distance relationship. I was earning my master's degree [...]
Happy #NationalPoetryMonth #HappyNewDay! #Napowrimo is a chance to write 30 poems in the month of April, has never felt this #peaceful for me. I'm sharing some excerpts of my latest collection of poems with you for the love of #blackfemaleauthors and #artivist everywhere on Instagram @venuslovejones. It's part #therapeuticart and #artasactivism because I have to [...]
Welcome to my World, The year 2022 has been the year I decided to become a mental health advocate. I am what depression looks like. I’ve already been transparent about my battles with a diagnosed anxiety disorder and the depression that comes along with that, yet l repeat: "I am not my dis-ease." I [...]
I've been working on this poem for 20 years or more. My high school teacher introduced me to a poem when I a senior in high school called "Two Women." The poem was in two similar but distinct voices on separate journeys, and I've been working on my version ever since. One was rich and [...]
Some say there is a need for war. We must protect our ideals from sea to shore. No matter how many lives are lost, death to sustain life - is the cost. It’s evil vs. good, and it’s always black and white. Really? If I am wrong does that make my rivals right? Can we [...]
Excuse the melted mess on my mantle. Once it was my only source of light. I used to listen to Billie on wax singing about heartache in my living room. When my thoughts were dark and cloudy like the sky, that cinnamon candle stayed lit for me. It had a sweet scent and a slow [...]
