Last poetry night

Few days ago i hosted my very last poetry night on the island.
It was an evening filled with tears and goodbyes etc.. etc and all the drama...

and a lady i love very much, and always talk about and deeply admire as a writer called Maria Silva wrote me this...

I can't keep it to myself, guys..even if it was not about me,
this poem is just the truth. It dont have a title tho

I hope you know how lovely you are. When you lower your chin and smile full teeth
Curls becoming curtains to those eyes
Always so bright..always searching
That as much as you are intrigued by the Cartier and Dior
I love that you smell of guava and passion fruit
That you learn to accept and admire the fact that your mother was only able to bubble wrap her mom's recipes
When she left home for your better future
And you can pack and leave behind what ever the hell fits you best That her accent is a reminder , that because of her you will not have to carry one when you order food
Or ask someone directions.

No uh? After you forced
yourself to put a sentence together in a foreign language
That the only momento you must bring back to your home
Is more experience and thoughts
And remember that with the wrong kind of strong, you cannot let sunlight in
And you will grow out of flirting
You will grow weary of the ones who feel something
but don't feel the need to let the other person know.
the ones who steal glances, but never kisses...

the ones who would if they were given a signal
, but have never been good at sign language.
The sweaty palms, the nervous smiles, the silence that begs for innuendo.
You spine has gotten straight
To the understanding that you don't become a poet,
singer, producer, actor or whatever else when the world acknowledges you are,
you become it the moment you decide that's what you are.
The moment your belief is accompanied by an action towards that thing.
For that reason you are already what you dream to be,

don't believe in the word aspire it creates distance.
And what you are and inspire dear
Is so near
In the middle of our chest
You teach others the force of vulnerability
That connection
The universal vibration
Of letting things come from the heart
You don't think it's a virtue or an accomplishment
to hide or deny your pain
so that you can take care of others.
We tell people they are "strong"
when we are uncomfortable with their pain
and would prefer that they shut up and not bother us with it.
To say "but you are strong" is telling someone
"I don't think you should feel that way,"
and it's not a compliment.
don't think that strength means being invulnerable,
or pretending that you are.
The belief that silence and masks are inherently good qualities

That is how you end up dressed up like a bat punching criminals in an alley
- it's not a good road to emotional health.
So I want to step off of what was
And start with the right now
And I know how deep it really goes, who is trying
To thread on a dream when the water is low
I know we can do this . come on lets start
I want to be real with you
Want to get heal with you
Open the doors for you
To a truer healing , can you imagine the feeling?
And the sky..ain't a ceiling at all

And you dear are hero in light..
Sunshine ahead of you.
You understand who that battle was for
And you protected that girl
And became the hero poet
Of your own story

WOW!

What an amazing, insightful tribute to the person she truly must Know. I'm sure you were awed, proud and humbled.

"We tell people they are "strong"
when we are uncomfortable with their pain
and would prefer that they shut up and not bother us with it.
To say "but you are strong" is telling someone
"I don't think you should feel that way,"
and it's not a compliment.
don't think that strength means being invulnerable,
or pretending that you are.
The belief that silence and masks are inherently good qualities That is how you end up dressed up like a bat punching criminals in an alley "

the woman is literally out of the world.
she reminds me of warsan shire's work

i wanted to cry, maybe i did cry..
I was Larry, I have been waiting for maria to love me back a little bit my whole life

lmao

i swear i have the biggest girl crush on her

You certainly deserve it.
Good luck on your next great adventure in Europe!

I love it, Yaki. What a bittersweet time for you... goodbyes and soon many new hellos. The bit about "strength" and what it means was hugely insightful and spot on.

I don't know what to say, I like it.
All the best on your present and future to come.
And also thank you for sharing your excitement with us.