Congratulations to N’cole Mitchell for receiving honorable mention at the Be Empowered Poetry Contest, created in partnership with See Jane Write, LLC. This project was made possible with support from Create Birmingham, the City of Birmingham, and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
I Define I’m Not the Definition
I control my fate; my fate doesn’t control me.
I am planting my positivity seeds everywhere I go.
I define; I’m not the definition.
I follow my intuition so I’m not in a position where
Things define me, and I’m not defining.
I’m learning to not be a people pleaser and abuse
My leisure.
I’m learning to be independent, not dependent,
Nor co-dependent on someone else for my
Happiness.
I define; I’m not the definition.
I’m not letting anyone steal my shine or my thunder
From underneath my nose
I’m in control.
I define; I’m not the definition.
I have to be tough when no one will be tough for me.
I have enough wisdom, knowledge, and understanding,
To know when someone’s being too demanding.
It’s time I started listening to inner me, know my worth,
And put myself first.
It’s time I grew up and don’t let people pull my strings,
And look out for myself and my surroundings.
I define, I am not the definition,
But I do take recognition for my mind because I am
Kind, brilliant, resilient,
And overall, I am killing it.
Because I define, I am not the definition.
Learn more about the Be Empowered Poetry Contest here.
