Poetry is always in the air

April is National Poetry Month. Expressing ourselves is a gift. Sometimes, stating opinions and facts aren’t always pleasant. However, sparking dialogue about similarities and differences can be the best result of it all. Discussing our perspectives about life can help others recognize another point of view they wouldn’t normally observe.

As members of society, we have to learn the importance of having a voice when it comes to economics and politics. As American citizens, we have a right to exercise our freedom of speech; it’s stated in the First Amendment. Art has been used as an agent for change since the beginning of time. Poetry is a form of art that has been expressed by people of all nationalities.

Griots originated from West African culture. They were spoken word artists who traveled to share history, knowledge and news. There was no such thing as gossip tabloids and news networks back then. The griots were the source for all of the above. Many times, they played instruments or were accompanied by musicians.

We have a responsibility to balance the wave of reporting history and news by way of art through dance, playwriting, poetry, song and visual art. My life as a poet has helped me to connect people from all walks of life. While hosting, performing and producing open mic sessions, the audiences and participants are exposed to the world through the eyes of others.

As an artist, it takes a lot of courage to share subjects that display failure and heartache. On the other hand, it’s therapeutic to release these types of topics with others. Of course, our lives seem to have many more joyous occasions, which also are exemplified from those of us in the literary world.

There’s no way to escape poetry. Our everyday conversations are examples of the spoken word. While listening to a song, watching the news, reading a book, going to see a play or scrolling through posts on social media, poetry is always in the air.

I challenge each one of you to release your state of mind on a piece of paper, through a mic or with a word processor in honor of National Poetry Month.

This story was originally published April 6, 2017 at 7:03 AM with the headline "Poetry is always in the air."