Because our two favorite “ivities” are collectivity and creativity, we wanted to invite you to a special gathering…
A potluck poem is a poem that is created collectively by a group of people who take turns sharing words. We would be so honored to have you join us by sparing a line or two and posting it in the comments section below this post as Miriam and I have.
The theme is freedom–so share whatever line you think speaks to this. Most importantly, you should feel free when you write. Don’t worry about what someone else wrote or think too much about what you should say–just share and we will love you. =)
We will post the poem, in its entirety, on Monday, March 8th as one document to be downloaded from this site. The final collective piece will be read and recorded by one of our contributors and posted as a video blog the following week.
Happy writing!
…
The next part is a creative opportunity for our contributors with a poetic spirit and access to YouTube or Vimeo. Learn more at our contests page.
Live Unchained 
I will speak.
I will listen.
I will move as if it was written
I will love as if my living depended on it
I am love. A noun a verb. Pure love.
Freedom isn’t free.
the sky is the limit.
I will fly like a bird.
I’ll walk below the joyous glow
Wind laced within a cheetah’s speed.
Freedom to live MY way
Unconstrained by time or false expectations
with our minds we breaks chains
but with our hearts we heal pain
allowing, knowing, honoring my power
and reminding others of the power within them.
I know of my ancestors so, I know who I am.
I am free becuase of those before me.
The power to dream, to reach, to grasp
Always within reach, that dream
I take, under my wings, all of humankind
and press to my heart and soothe with my soul
in my dream i see chocolate, cocoa brown, golden brown, and alabaster hues of black women marching together for sisterhood solidarity and i begin to cry….
Love and Freedom are verbs.
Freedom is and freedom aint…..
I will hold on to my names so that I may remember who I am, my calling
be
unfettered
unchained
unbound
by definitions
in english
in spanish
in black brown white yellow
pure boondagle mulatto
americana american
boricua yankee
by birth or by thought
between my legs
or in my heart
i am
what became
by my parents
my ancestors
my histories
to be
spirit
thought
force of nature
but first and foremost
to be
me
Illusive, yet constantly sought.
Both finite and infinite at once.
An individual’s freedom must end where another’s should begin.
For in collective freedom, the pursuit of one’s happiness must never come at the expense of another.
Sagas of minimum wage, a quarter for me as I slaved
worthy of love
open to peace
no fear of goodness
your enemies seem like cartoon characters now… all that office drama gone with a pink slip
you toiled but did not despise
now you’re free
reinvention means
–I don’t know, what does it mean, mom?
What does it mean, cuz?
why are we up on each other?
I’ve got to get out of this house
Not that I don’t love you.
Fearless ..You thought you had power..
Rebelling …Against your small mind..
Excited …About all of lifes possibilities..
Elevated ..Cuz I am ME…
. . .because freedom means acknowledging that pink elephant in the room and. . .
the dark caverns of the soul
Each second breathing inside this vessel is freedom…
Freedom to is being true to your desires . If your not true, then you are caged.
and when this vessel cracks
it is freedom that mends it
so injustice can’t find its way in…
The skin you wear-my deepest fears.
shouting at the top of my lungs
crying until i can’t breathe
i’m free
Freedom is being too confident in your divinely inspired talents and abilities to fear disappointing others at the expense of your personal happiness.
To be free is fully loving oneself in the image of the God in and through whom we were created.
Freedom is learning that mistakes are inevitable, but making certain that each subsequent misstep is a brand new one.
when you look in the mirror and the reflection makes you smile — you are free.
Freedom is a flamer and a diva who has embraced all that s/he is and has given herself liscence to sing, to dance and say whatever she wants, how she wants b/c she is free.
approval from myself, to myself, of myself
I speak Freedom in the names of those from whom it was stolen
I speak Freedom in the spirit of those who never owned it
I speak Freedom in the face of those who keep us bound and broken
I speak Freedom in the light of the path we’re on to know it
winding through the seams in search of blurring the lens of clarity…
To be free is to be me
Loving myself completely
Loving those who loved me
Loving those who gave me
Life while fighting to be
To know love is to taste freedom.
To give freely that which was given
unto you without condition by the Universe.
To see God in the mundane
and to embrace it, unabashedly and wholeheartedly.
It’s the simple things that remind me, I’m free
I’m free to be or not be
whatever you may or may not think of me
your freedom to believe,
I will not try to deceive
but will release my words to the Universe
to add a voice, to hear your choice
to continue our discourse
changing, molding,
playing, holding
what it means to be free
some struggle for it
some already have it
some don’t know what it is
some don’t know what it feels like
the power of the mind brings freedom
to all who dare to explore their inner realm
be brave . . . take my hand
lets find it together
to be free, have freedom
it’s not just for me
im free, but others chained
knowing that, how free can i be
my mind is heart is with trapped
my mind may be free to think and choose
where is my heart, when i see other’s blues
freedom cannot be just me in my eyes
free other, now, to free our lives
enslavement does not erase the freedom that preceded it.
the presence of a lie does not negate the truth that existed before it.
and any setback does not render meaningless a previous success.
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Contrary to what others show you
Freedom does not provide a license to act without conscience.
To move with
Speak on
Bathe in
Shout about
Sing of
Dance for
Create
Love
Teach
Embrace
Breathe and
Exude freedom
You must be a righteous soul seeking satisfaction and peace in its purest form
For yourself and all in need.
to communicate
to hold it a little longer
to impress more deeply