I’ve always been a poetic child. The kind of gal who felt every gust of wind and every raindrop as if they were messages meant just for me. I didn’t need to be taught how to write—writing was already in my bones, deep within my veins, pulsing through me like blood. Poetry has been my way of making sense of what I couldn’t always speak aloud even though I’m quite talkative, the place where I could breathe without judgment, without fear of being misunderstood because there’s no right or wrong way to write poetry. It’s about expressing yourself authentically and resonating with folks deeply.
From the time I could hold a crayon, I knew there was something about words that could make the world stop. Not in the way a loud shout might get attention, but in the way that a whisper could pierce through the noise and speak directly to the soul. As a child, I was always observing—watchful, sensitive, constantly searching for something deeper than what was on the surface. I found that depth in words, in poems, rap in verses that captured the rawness of life in ways nothing else could.
I chose the slogan “Writing with Heart, Speaking Truth” because it’s who I am. I don’t write just to fill a page—I write to expose the places inside of me that are often too messy, too fragile, to show anyone. When I write, I write with the intention to open myself up, to allow my truths to unfold. I write to give voice to the parts of me that are too heavy to carry silently anymore. Writing is the space where I can drop the walls and let the floodgates of my heart open wide.
There is something so powerful about emotional vulnerability. When I was younger, I was taught to keep my emotions in check—to be strong, to be resilient. But I soon learned that strength doesn’t come from hiding your emotions. True strength lies in the ability to feel them, to acknowledge them, and to express them honestly. Writing with heart means owning those feelings, no matter how raw they might be. It’s about trusting that the words you speak—no matter how messy—have power.
“Writing with Heart, Speaking Truth” means that I’m not afraid to show up as I am—broken pieces, contradictions, scars, and all. It means writing when it feels scary, when the truth I’m sharing is uncomfortable, when the vulnerability feels like it might tear me apart. It means giving the world pieces of myself that I used to hide because I’ve realized that when I write from my heart, I invite others to do the same.
Poetry has taught me that the most beautiful moments aren’t always the ones we share in the spotlight. The most beautiful moments are often the quiet ones, the ones where we stand face-to-face with our truths, without the fear of judgment. I write to create those moments for others. I write to remind people that their truth is worth telling. I write to show that it’s okay to be imperfect, to be hurt, to be afraid—because we are all navigating this world with these same feelings, these same fears.
Through my words, I hope to build bridges, to remind others that we are not alone. There is a power in vulnerability that transcends our individual stories. It connects us. It makes us human. Every poem I write is a message to anyone who has ever felt too much, too deeply, or too quietly: You are seen. You are heard. Your truth matters.
So, this is my promise—to keep writing with heart and speaking truth. To continue to show up, even when the words aren’t easy, and to offer those words to anyone who needs them. Because the more we share our truths, the more we give each other permission to do the same. And in a world that often asks us to hide our emotions, I believe that’s the greatest act of courage we can offer.
LaTesha Monique
Diviniti Poetry Imprint
2025
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