Your happiness and true being is not to cater to others but to walk in truth so that others may see your light and adopt your practices to find themselves. Remember your peace, your truth and your joy is personalized and looks good only on you.
"Poetry is the art of your inner being manifested into words." . - Ife Folami Mensah
I started writing poetry at the age of twelve. I can remember grabbing my two sisters and taking them into the living room to sit on the couch that faced me. I stood there excited because the feeling of having fire stored in my stomach and needing to regurgitate the words to be able to feel the sense of relief of no one understands me and this is what makes me different. I started my first line with, "Have you ever felt burning at your fingertips, ears smoking from the flames as the words sit at your lips?" I stood silently waiting for them to snap their fingers...
Instead, I received the most tremendous laughter from both of them as they yelled out, "Girl sit down, that shit is corny." At that point I couldn't go on to finish the poem because I no longer felt full but empty. I tried to laugh with them so they couldn't tell that I was wearing my emotions and feelings on my shoulders and wanted to cry. From that point on I wrote very little to nearly nothing at all until the age of 24.
I started writing poetry heavily while I worked in the prison. I noticed a young African man sweeping the floor (SSI worker) singing a song. He was always polite to all the officers and kept a smile on his face. Though I knew he was there for aggressively assaulting an police officer. I wondered why couldn't this same guy be successful and be respectful in the free world. I grabbed a piece of count paper and started to write like never before. I soon started to bring a booklet to work and wrote daily while being on overnight shift. Most of the poems were related to the things I seen going on behind the walls in the prison.
I later moved and you guessed it, I hadn't wrote in nearly 12 years. I started back writing as I started diving into creating a better version of myself and becoming woke and transparent to my true person. I had went on journey of finding me and wanted to take poetry along with me as it has always been my avenue to vent the many talks and thoughts I had going on in my head. I no longer valued how one dislikes the art of words I chose, nor was I writing to please anyone but to express the most intimate thoughts and connection I had to words, feelings and emotions.
"Poetry is truth hidden in a lie of emotions and feelings." - Ife Folami Mensah
The following poems are very profound in my life. These three pieces came at my lowest moments but has always kept me grounded to who I am as a person and gave me reason to keep pushing. I hope my readers enjoy the following pieces of art as I usher the energy of value, love and peace to where you are. I hope these poems uplift you remind you to value who you are and what you do.
She is Earth
This Third child you speak of brings the breath of life necessary for survival
Foundations are stowed upon her and she refuses to fall...
Her core is sacred birthing suns of nature
She flows like the rivers, oceans and seas
Her weather is unpredictable
Her tears pour like storms, her smile brings light yet her heart is dark and cold like a winter night....
Equally divided but whole being one with herself, like Pangaea no comparison
Change, shift, gravitational molding I mean holding herself together.
All 222 million miles from the potential danger of destruction. Her presence allows you to function.
She holds her ancestors in her womb vibrating energy awakening from their tombs...
Slowly pacing at 67000 miles per hour making a total 360 degrees right before your eyes... She Rise!
This is what Mother Natured Birth...
She is Earth!
© Ife Mensah
(All Rights Reserved)
Galaxy Love
The radiance of the sun enlightens the presence of my being
Complimentary to my aura, in sync we shall be
Allowing Earth to drive to the Moon
We shall reach great measures.
Trusting gravity to keep us grounded, this is beyond the control of our hands and feet,
Distinctively in search of galactic measures, plainly in view just not in sight
Energy thrown into the cosmos elliptical effects we are without power, greatly in tune with astronomical pendulums
We must see where this goes.
© Ife Mensah
(All Rights Reserved)
Broken Curses
The necklace and bracelet set was passed down from my mother's, mother's mom.
I'm not sure how it fitted on them so perfectly but I surely would like it loosened a bit…
The necklace is beautiful, gold with red rubies it actually brings out my eyes.
I remember them wearing this set shows how time flies.
This symbolizes I am no longer governed by their regulations and rules.
I am in a new city, time to use the tools, of finding myself, establishing my own wealth and preparing for the beauty of love that just happens to find me here, I stand…
Looking around, caressing the sounds of my surroundings. Where do I start?
Surely, I'm not ready to be rejected. Doors slamming, not right now" come back later or you just don't qualify.
I was not expecting this. Surely, I came for a new beginning, replacing my past of pretending with bells of freedom as I walked freely through the city...The laughter and joy of those holding hands, hat flipped throw change in, just dance. I am exactly where I need to be.
© Ife Mensah
(All Rights Reserved)
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