This poem was written by the talented, Nadjah Hassan! She wrote this poem when she went through a death process, for she was diagnosed with Lupus. Nadjah chose the photo of Majda Tabit to represent her poem, because of the flowers. During the beginning of her healing stages she felt tired and defeated. However, her father always told her that she is a butterfly in a cocoon waiting to bloom, and she loved that. This saying helped Nadjah open her eyes to see many different things about herself. The song, “Rose in the Dark” also inspired Nadjah to choose this photo to represent her poem, for the song states, “I had to grow the rose in the dark”. Generally speaking, most roses or flowers do not grow well in the light, they bloom in the dark and with the light o the moon.
A poem by the amazing Marika Holbus that projects the universe and the importance of reconnecting and finding it within yourself despite the world that we live in. Trusting the universe might be hard at times, but Marika wrote that there is always a plan for all of us.
This poem means a lot to me because it represents black femme freedom. The ability to be, which is something we are rarely given in this world. I chose this photo because Nosi looks like she’s in a state of serenity and that’s what writing this poem felt like. Allowing myself to feel and be serene.