Copyright © 2023 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
Instagram Poetry Tips Series: #5 and #6
Sometimes you just need a little inspiration! Be inspired and just create, you have to start somewhere… right?
International Women’s Day 2023: A Poetic Tribute
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8, it is the focal point in the women’s rights movement and raises awareness of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity
My Poetic Tribute
Over the years I have written a few poetry pieces inspired by women and their journey’s, the pieces have explored women’s strength, their growth and their challenges. I have selected a few below to be a part of my poetic tribute.
“Bearing Fruit” : video and audio
“I am Naked” : audio
“The War Cry” : Instagram live video for the book launch of Warrior in 2020 and another video for End Violence Against Women campaign 2022.
A reading of Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” audio
Dear Strong Woman
A couple of years ago I started a motivational series on Instagram called “Dear Strong Women.” Have a look at my Poetry by Traysi Instagram account and scroll through the posts for the black text on green background ones…
Copyright © 2023 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
A spoken word piece for Dignify
For the launch of Dignify in 2020 I was commissioned to write a spoken word piece. This was a part of their journey to engage artists into the Dignify conversations about healthy relationships.
I also revisited my filming and edited skills and created a short spoken word video!
The encounter
From afar I felt you On the back of my neck your whispered words brunt bruises into my skin And into the night I saw you Through shadows and joy induced fears I was reminded of all those years where Deep within something stirred and shattered Am emotion lit by a lighter thumb flick I was in front of you Smiling through clinched teeth and tears Looking different from my insta pic Wondering if you liked what you saw Do you like me This was real I could feel and still I stood in that moment waiting for you Waiting to be pulled internally Blistered hands moulding Starting a transformation I wanted and didn’t want At the same time Becoming something I did not want to be Was not borne to be Couldn’t be Silently screaming superficially “i will not be!” Sealed into a glass box and tossed like dice until I cracked Pieces of me suddenly unimportant Irrelevant App pressed finger swipe Sweating in screen lit places Faces bodies blurring Until you saw me You liked me You told me I was your queen And you’ll show me the world The things I will see Only imagined in Hollywood dreams Scenes where I danced in blissed Kissed by the gold you promised me Our attraction Stunned all sense out of me None of it made sense The way I craved your attention Your toxic flooded eyes showed me oceans And all I wanted to do was dive right in Blind folded to your unloved speech Caressed intimately by fingers glued to mouse clicks Eyes watered from starring too much too hard Every detail too bold and sold through cheap pleasures I dived right in until I drowned Into a relationship I could not find Its foundation crumpled into distances Fallen sand disappeared through my open fingers And despite every cell in my body crying out no I said yes Because you know I loved you from our first encounter
Copyright © 2020 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
Instagram Poetry Tips Series
Tips #1 and #2
Do day dream about writing poetry?
Do you need some poetry writing encouragement?
Maybe I can help, hopefully? I have started a new Instagram Poetry Tips Series to encourage those who are either thinking about writing or those have reached an unmotivated stage where anything poetry leads to a dead-end! Trust me, I have been there many times!
Here are my first two tips!
You might also find ‘Why Do I Write? Reason #1: It Heals’ post helpful.
You can also checkout ‘Poetry Writing Inspiration.’
My poetry: real love
A few weeks ago I was asked to write a spoken word piece based on the Bible scripture 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This I performed at the Wellspring during a talk about “Real Love.”
Love bears all things and never gives up
In every circumstance it remains
Roots dug deep in storms
Where failures transform into new things
Overcoming life’s hurdles
Ducking and diving dilemmas
Unexpected and foreseen
Steadfast it stays
For days
For years
Forever
Enduring it all
Never giving up
Love never loses faith
Continues believing
Hoping
Seeing beyond human mind-sets
And current situations
Seeing the best
Protects with a shield that surrounds and trusts
The glue in all relationships
Patiently bringing peace in the waiting
Kind
Selfless
Caring
Compassionate
Love
Outshining anything man made and thought of
Intertwining into life so gracefully
Cutting through concealed places
Heavy spaces where things seem lost
Love stays strong
Never weakening
Never dwindling
Never fails
Fades or ends
Just flows out of those who know
What it means to be loved and
To love
Growing out of God's love
Filled with a real love
Out of a heart fully submitted
Births something so beautiful
An understanding that
God is love
God is love and
All who live in love live in God and
This love is the greatest
The most powerful
Where every cell of our body pours out love
Where every action and
Reaction begins and ends with love
Where every language spoken is in the language of love
And we are nothing if we haven't loved
We can have a faith that moves mountains
Speak in tongues of angles
Have the gift of prophecy and
Can fathom all mysteries and
Knowledge
We can give all to the poor and do all the things we think God has called us to do
Leave a life of legacy lasting for generations and generations
We can do and overcome amazing things both big and small
All in the name of the lord
And still not love
Seasons will come and go
Prophesy will cease
Tongues will be stilled
Knowledge will pass away
Like dust disappearing in the wind and despite all these endings
Only three things will remain
Faith hope and love
And the greatest of these is love
Copyright © 2022 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
Stop sexual abuse & sexual violence: a poetry dedication
A poetry dedication to stopping violence against women and stopping sexual abuse and sexual violence
Copyright © 2022 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
The year so far…
I entered this year with a plan, one that challenged and expanded my writing, where I hoped to introduce the world to a changed and new me. A more confident me. A more focused me. A more wiser me. A stretched-beyond-recognition-me as my plan pushed comfort zones into new, wider places. It demanded I said an active ‘yes’ to every writing thing asked of me, despite my mind screaming “noooo” and my body gearing up for run/ flight.
There were various mind maps of ideas and goals, a to do list so sophisticated it had chapters and scheduled notification reminders that buzzed. I was so sure that 2021 would be a another year of growth and development, much more than what I have ever imagined. Unable to contain myself, I walked around stiff and tight, bursting to the brim with excitement.
“Just say an active yes to everything creative”
Traysi Bejamin-Matthew
Then the penny dropped! A few months into the year I realised weeks had went by and I hadn’t done much. Those weeks quickly transformed into months and before I knew it, I was already halfway through the year! (Yes… I did cry and grieved the 6 month loss…)
Life was hectic and overwhelming, an uncontrollable beast that sucked my creative energy and motivation dry. I must admit, I did lay there for a bit and allowed it all to happen. It just felt easier and I didn’t have the emotional and mental will power to say to myself “Come on Traysi!” “You can do it Traysi!” “Don’t stop Traysi!” (I should have just paid someone to give me a hard kick on the butt!)
But, amongst the mess I knew deep down it would be OK. I was reassured by my trust in God, the gift of inner strength and the fact that I have been in these places before and survived.
When I got a spiritual nudge two weeks ago, I jumped up with joy! The nudge whispered “love letters to God.”
That was all I needed. It reminded me that the year isn’t over and I could still end this year achieving something satisfying and amazing. I just needed to refocus, replan, set aside time (fight for my time) and not be so hard on myself for the way this year started.
So I am throwing this out there and being accountable to all who read this and those who love me and my poetry. I will (start to) finish my “love letters to God” poetry collection and end this year with a bang!
Watch this space!
Why do I write? Reason #1: it heals
Copyright © 2021 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
This is the first in a series of poems that explores why I write. Reason #1 is the healing aspect of “expressive writing,” and obviously, my chosen format is poetry. However, if you want to try something different; “expressive writing” can be writing diaries, journals, songs and thought pieces.
In the new world of Covid-19 there has been increased conversations about mental health, wellbeing and wellness. For example, the signs to an unhappy mental health, the different things that impact mental health and the many wellness activities you can do to ensure a healthy and happy mental health.
“Expressive writing = happy mental health and wellbeing”
What’s on your heart and mind?
“What’s on your heart and mind?” is the subtitle of John F Evans article titled Expressive Writing. He describes the rhythms of expressive writing, the connections with wellness and challenges readers to ‘become their own researcher,’ trying out his tips and advice, seeing if it works.
But that question, “what’s on your heart and mind?” Is the foundation of expressive writing. It is the starting point where the tumbling of words from your heart and mind become written (or typed) and ignites the healing process. It is the outpouring of soul that helps the transformation from an unhappy mental health to a happy (or happier) one. And like most things in life, practise makes things (writing) easier.
“So, what is on your heart and mind?”
From very early on in my writing career (as a young teen, lol), I had some awareness of the links between poetry writing, emotional healing and a happy mental health. Of course, I wouldn’t have used those words to describe it, it wasn’t talked about like it is now. I just knew writing made me feel better. It helped make sense of my world and I just found it easier to explain my thoughts and emotions with a pen or pencil.
The strong urge
As an adult and during my most rock bottom places, I translated my emotions to paper or computer screen. Often prayerfully scribbling down (or typing) a difficult period of my life, after feeling a strong urge just to get it out of me!
For me personally, this “strong urge” was usually connected with a previous “God time moment” (as I am a Christian), where I had a verbal/ thoughtful outpouring of what was on my heart and mind. Followed by a still moment wrapped in God’s warmth.
It’s unimportant if you have just a “strong urge” or something else that helps you to write like another wellness activity or strong motivation. Just write something! Everyone has to start somewhere.
“I must write, I need to write, I am going to get it out of me!”
The routine
However, the “strong urge” might not be enough for some or they just might never experience the “strong urge.” Don’t worry because a regular expressive writing routine will get you there. It doesn’t matter if it is daily or weekly, in the morning or before bed, poetry or journaling. You have to do what feels right for you, be consistent and take baby steps. Just get through the week and the month, despite the never-ending assortment of emotions and distractions. Then before you know it, your “expressive writing routine” is a daily habit like brushing your teeth and sleeping.
“Start writing and healing.”
My poetry: she rose and journeyed
Copyright © 2021 Traysi Benjamin-Matthew
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Traysi Benjamin-Matthew