BY GLORIA O’KOYE
My fear of speaking on different issues,
Is the unsatisfied public?
“Is that your lived experience? Why on earth do you care to talk about it?”
“Is your bloodline these people? Go worry about your own before helping out others!”
“Don’t speak if you don’t get all the tiniest details perfected. Oh make sure you do this and that!”
“Wait what! You speak on things you want to learn? They would be disgusted if they heard you don’t do that!”
Your voice and curiosity to go outside and explore,
May be shut down by closed-minded doors
If I have a passion for many years
But didn’t know how or where to start,
Wouldn’t a piece to spark interest from those who are willing to teach a genuine heart?
My fear is speaking out different issues
Are the ones whose intentions was to protect.
“Why soak yourself in a tub of traumas?”
“Why bringing up the past?”
If my work brings more harm than good
Than I would agree
And take a break.
But if writing is the only way I speak,
Would you cut out the only way for me to express?
The silence is a deadly silence
For voiceless.
Vocals been shut down by those
Who rather shut the uprising?
Out of self-doubts and selfishness.
To speak out to gain fame
Is the reason why mistrust was planted in the first place?
So from a place to open up
To capture those
With relatable ears
From a place where I speak
To gain more insight,
Of heart stricken issues
So I can sit and hear!
I am no longer allowing
Outside voices
To silence me
No longer allowing inside judgements and non constructive criticisms
Have me worried.
I am dedicating the next several
Pieces of my art
To share some inner stories.
I am no longer fearful of how people may think of me!
