Originally Released in 2018, I Don't Write Happy Poems, Yet is a battle against depression, anxiety, and being black in America. Within its pages, the author navigates life, grief, love, joy and finding purpose. By baring his strengths, and his weaknesses, he hopes to inform, entertain, and inspire a new generation of freedom seekers to find and follow their own path.
I Don't Write Happy Poems, Yet
I stopped selling this book a while ago. Stopped promoting it. Stopped selling it and even carrying copies. Something about not being satisfied with it. Typos maybe. Mostly, I felt felt the deepest cringe whenever I went back and read some of the poems. I wanted to hide this version of me away and never talk about it again.
Years later, I still agree with myself, in some ways. I'm a much better writer now, sure. But all these poems are from my actual first year of writing. This book also captures my raw emotions in a way that can't be replicated. I can't go back and redo anything that lead to the creation this book, but I can carry them with me. I can hold them, I can learn from it and do better as I move forward. And now, so can you.
Art is Art. Art for Arts sake, is the only standard, and not a standard. Moreso the goal. The purpose. There is no Good or Bad. Just what is, and what can be. We would all do well to judge less and accept more. Both ourselves, and others. This book contains who I was, not who I am. But inside of it, I see who I can be. I can't wait to show you.
Thank you for coming this far with me. This is just a glimpse of how this journey began. We ain't no where near the end.
