Spoken Word Poetry | Celebrating Black History Month

Over twelve years ago, when I was in the middle of my undergraduate studies in snowy Michigan, I tumbled down a “rabbit hole” of YouTube videos of spoken word poets.

And I was hooked.

I spent the next few years listening to and eventually writing and performing my own spoken word poems.

There is something beautiful about well-written words…

they sing off the page

they make your heart beat to a new rhythm

they are what helped me to remember to breathe when my braces were getting removed from my teeth a year ago.

Well-written words in the right, smooth, and well-laid order have a way of putting the soul at ease.

One of my favorite spoken word poets is Thuli Zuma. She is South African, and I am Zimbabwean. She only has a handful of poems on YouTube. 

But she is fantastic.

Below is the poem, Things, I still recite often…

I said Things to myself in my mind the other day when I went to the doctor’s for a routine check-up and I was waiting for them to come back into the room.

I said Things to myself the other day when I was trying to fall asleep and my mind wandered.

I considered making a whole list of fantastic black poets to celebrate Black History Month, but guess what?

She’s my fave.

It’s my fave.

And 12 years later, her words still echo in my soul.

Enjoy.