You’re your own kind of beautiful.
Category: Poetry
Poetic expressions
Education Power @Dawn Minott |International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (25 March)
By teaching the history of slavery we can guard against its legacy of racism.
Free At Last©Dawn Minott |International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (25 March)
The enterprise of enslavement lasted for more than 400 years. A history of barbarity and also a history of awe-inspiring courage.
You Are Missing From Me ©Dawn Minott |with audio
When I say I miss you, I mean I miss the part of me that you are!
Mid-Week Boost: Stay Inspired @Dawn Minott
Never stop creating.
Poetry Was ©Dawn Minott |World Poetry Day 2023
Before the written word, poetry was.
Mid-Week Boost: Is It Worth It?
If it’s worth it. It’s worth waiting.
Tulips in Winter @Dawn Minott |Haiku series
Tulips’ peaceful embrace in winter’s snow.
Happy International Women’s Day 2023: Equity Embraces ©Dawn Minott
Equity means creating an inclusive world. We can each play a part.
Still ©Dawn Minott |a Senryu
Still in love with you.
Mid-Week Boost: Be You
Be who you are. Say what you feel.
black history IS ©Dawn Minott |a sestet for Black History Month, with audio
Honoring black history—the triumphs and struggles, the innovations and the artistic, cultural, social and political achievements. Black resistance.
Unbought and Unbossed ©Dawn Minott |a Gwawdodyn Byr for Black History Month, with audio
Undeterred, glass ceiling-breaker!
Mid-Week Boost: Life Lessons
Life is a master teacher.
Shabbat Shalom: The God-Man ©Dawn Minott
Jesus Messiah, the Son of God yet as human as brother and friend
Ode to Da Curls In My Hair ©Dawn Minott |for Black History Month, with audio
Black hair is black resistance. Black hair has a uniquely meaningful history as a symbol of survival, resistance and celebration and as such is an important part of Black history.
Mid-Week Boost: Be Gentle With Yourself
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump being gentler with you. Happy hump day!
AFRICA in My Heart ©Dawn Minott |for Black History Month, with audio
She is … Africa on my heart
What the World Needs is Love ©Dawn Minott
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Freedom Ad ©️Dawn Minott | a Shadorma for Black History Month
Up until the end of the Civil War, more than 200,000 ads to recapture enslaved people who walked away from slavery were published in American newspapers.
For Türkiye & Syria ©️Dawn Minott | Senryu series
Life changed instantlyDeath and dying all around Hearts are beating pain Finding hope in griefRescue received with a smileLove knows no limits Afterword: I arrived in Türkiye for work 2 days before the earthquake. We weren’t close to the epicenter, but the humanitarian nature of the organization I work for meant parts of our team …
Continue reading For Türkiye & Syria ©️Dawn Minott | Senryu series
Finding Broken Hearts ©Dawn Minott|with audio
Inspired by a documentary on Whitney Houston’s life and death and out birthed this piece—a response to her #1-chart-topping question in song: “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” I miss her. What a beautiful contributor to our world she was.
Conquest of Paradise ©️Dawn Minott |a Shadorma for Black History Month
In 1492, the year Christopher Columbus made landfall on an island in the Caribbean—and the waves of European exploration, conquest and settlement that followed—it started a massive global exploitation of indigenous populations from Africa to the Americas with spin-off consequences that still reverberate in the lives of black and brown peoples today.
Mid-Week Boost: Color Changes Things
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge—add a little color, brighten up the dark patches to get over the hump. Happy hump day!
Folding Chair ©️Dawn Minott | a Shadorma for Black History Month
Black resistance means creating space to be heard and seen.
Flower of the Day Challenge #54: Plainly Gorgeous Orchid, 1st Bloom
this orchid mom is exuberant yet again because one more of my other babies is blooming yet again! She’s my oldest, just over 5 years old!!!!
Black History ©️Dawn Minott | a Shadorma for Black History Month
History// Bold and black as night// So it shines// Like stars bright// In a cloudless dark night sky// There from where time starts//
Black Resistance ©️Dawn Minott |a Gwawdodyn Byr for Black History Month
Every stroke of pen takes flight// Every piece of poem and prose write// Every act of resistance might// Every riot, march, sit-in fight// Each is another force—Black resistance// Stay the course till freedom for all is right
Black History Month: 2023 Theme—Black Resistance
African Americans have consistently resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all its forms. Nearly 179 years ago, the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett proposed that the only path to freedom, justice, and equality; self-determination; and/or social transformation is RESISTANCE. In thunder tones, Garnett shouted: Let your motto be resistance! resistance! RESISTANCE! By resisting Black people have …
Continue reading Black History Month: 2023 Theme—Black Resistance
Flower of the Day Challenge #54: Plainly Gorgeous Orchid, 1st Bloom
… happy orchid mom exclaiming: “my baby is blooming yet again!” She’s the first bloom of my season!!! Waiting with bated breath for my other babies to bloom.
Shabbat Shalom: Living Hyphenated©️ Dawn Minott | a sestet
God never looks at you apart from Jesus. So don’t ever see yourself outside of Jesus. Everything that is true about Jesus is true about you.
Mid-week Boost: You Have Presence
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to relook at yourself and recharge to get over the hump. Happy hump day!
Mid-Week Boost: It’s Gonna Be A Good Day
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump. Happy hump day. It’s a good day!!
Souled Out for Change©️by Dawn Minott: A Tribute Poem for Dr Martin Luther King on his 94th Birthday
Some kings rule from iron thronesDisconnected from community realityYou’re the King who served from humanity’s throneWho dreamed not in black or whiteWho envisioned instead a world inclusiveYour voice, your vision a great void fillingSpeaking the language of the unheardInspiration to persevere, to never stop dreamingSummoning collective longings and eternal hopesFor a nation by its noblest …
Flower of the Day Challenge #53: Helleborus x Hybridus—Black Beauty
… also referred to as 'Dark and Handsome' or 'Black swan'. Mother Nature totally rocks with flowers in the full range of the color spectrum including black!!! Thanks to Cee for hosting the Flower of the Day prompt 2023 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 …
Continue reading Flower of the Day Challenge #53: Helleborus x Hybridus—Black Beauty
Life Lived in Poetry©️Dawn Minott |with audio
Before-word: Life is line upon line of experiences grouped together like stanzas, arranged like verses in a script // expressed with voice, diction, sound, rhythm, meter // understood through figures of speech, symbolism, allegory, imagery // structured in syntax and scheme // with strong, accurate, interesting words, deliberately chosen to give meaning to life — LIFE LIVED IN POETRY.
Springtime Bunny© |with audio
It’s spring time I’m abounding with joy There’s a cute little bunny that drops by the garden each spring He’s an elusive frisky little fella Ears always at attention, pointed straight up to sky like soldier resolute to flight, not fight At best I’ve managed only to stare longingly at “His Royal Cuteness” Face pressed …
Flower of the Day Challenge #52: Color-blotched Orchid
Thanks to Cee for hosting the Flower of the Day prompt 2023 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 to subscribe & follow the blog. I love hearing from you, so remember to “like” & comment. For more content start HERE👈 In creative solidarity, Dee
Mid-Week Boost: Bend Not Break
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump. Be flexible enough to bend. Happy hump day!
You, Me, We©
“Ubuntu” is part of the Zulu phrase "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu", which literally means that a person is a person through other people.
What’s Your Status? Child of God!© | an Abecedarian with audio
What’s your status? Not what’s on social media feeds or catchy one liners on time-elapsed stories. Your status now and always will be child of God!
Who’s Behind You©️ | a Senryu
Fear not what is before you when those who care are behind you.
Small Talk: A Tale in the Park©️
As I’m on the final-final days of leave and the NY weather has been unseasonably mild, I decided to take my reading to the outside. I strolled to my favorite park, just across the street from home, and chose a bench facing the river to perch. I perched because much of the bench remains wet …
Mid-week Boost: Positivity
Positive thinking and optimism.
Roots©️ | an Idyll Haibun
Boots worn laid in waste Till nature took it over Unexpectedly
Page 1 of 365 in the Book of 2023
Happy New Year 2023
1 Day©️: Countdown to 2023
A numerological countdown to 2023 …
A New Year Resolution Worth Keeping©️
The new year will bring us 365 opportunities, how will we use them?!
Mid-week Boost: The Power of Yet
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge—employ the power of YET—to get over the hump. Happy hump day!
‘Twas The Days After Christmas©
…and just like that, Christmas is over. Or, is it?! What if we kept the spirit of Christmas with us all year!!
Merry Christmas
Hello blogging world. I hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends over a good Christmas meal. As we wrap up yet another Christmas, reminder to believe in the reason for the season. 2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 to subscribe & …
Blue Christmas©️| with audio
The outcry of my heart as I muse over lives being self-cancelled, seemingly without warning. Why?!
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: The Return of Jesus© [a poem, with audio]
Jesus is the reason for the season. What if instead of Santa Claus it was Jesus who visited this Christmas? This piece is a spin-off from “Twas The Night Before Christmas” and a poetic eschatological rendition of Revelation’s description of the end of time and the coming of Jesus Christ.
8 Days©️: Countdown to 2023
A numerological countdown to 2023 …
Flower of the Day Challenge #51: Sun-Kissed Orchid
I love the way the sun kisses this orchid each morning.
Mid-Week Boost: Hope
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump with/in hope. Happy hump day!
It’s Raining … Suicide©️
It’s raining young people off roofs Suicide epidemic—the numbers are proof A single gun shot aimed at the head Appearing well but next day, dead *** Don’t take it for granted you’ll see the signs Till you read another tragedy in the headlines Don’t judge by what you see on the outside It’s not always …
Time Won©
Hello Everyone! I didn’t get to post at all for these past two weeks. When most people are gearing down to year end, because of one of my major work projects—16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence—my schedule goes in the opposite direction and it’s more like I’m revving up. I had a lot to …
Art+Activism=Artivism: Disrupt Cycle, End Violence
Using traditional mediums like film and music to raise awareness or push for change…
Life’s “Poetree” of Gratitude©️ |with audio
Let everything that has breath, breathe in gratitude, exhale praise
Midweek Boost: You Are Worthy
You are worthy!!!
Flower of the Day Challenge #50: Foxglove
Beautiful foxglove!!
Flower of the Day Challenge #49: Pretty in Pink Rose
… garden’s last hoorah! before winter sets in —pretty in pink rose 2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 to subscribe & follow the blog. I love hearing from you, so remember to “like” & comment. For more content start HERE👈 In creative solidarity, Dee
On Purpose©
Born with a purpose-tag on me. Living every day t’ward my destiny. Knowing tomorrow may not be. Living out loud every day I see.
Midweek Boost: More Than Conqueror
I am more than capable of conquering every tomorrow!
Shabbat Shalom: B.I.B.L.E.—Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth | with audio
The people who know God, know life!
Midweek Boost: Don’t Dim Your Own Light
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump. Don’t dim your own light. Happy hump day!
Sunday Photo Reflection #35: Celebrating Autumn
Celebrating autumn!
The Grand Canyon Adventure| a Haiku series
Grand Canyon adventure
Do You period!© | a Senryu
Do you! Life compared to others is never fully lived.
Right One, Wrong Time© | Senryu Series
To love is something. To be loved by who you love is everything.
Love’s Beginning©
at love’s beginning conversations unending heart-beats skipping each passing moment lingering more of you and more of me unfolding you for me and me for you exchanging soul to soul connecting without words conversing emotions revealing deeper into love falling 2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what you see? To never miss a post …
Without!©
Without—the absence, omission, or avoidance of; not with; with no or none of; lacking
Love Affirmation© | with audio
If ever you believe that love is done That’s when you’ll start back at one
Midweek Boost: Persevere
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump—persevere. Happy hump day!
Oops! Heart Did It Again©
Love isn’t forced, if s/he’s wrong for you, s/he can’t love you the right way.
Shabbat Shalom: Fragments of Prayer©
The more I think on why I pray, the more I come to realize that my prayers are really but fragments of my heart. Like when I’m compelled to stop in acknowledgement that the normalcy and routine of my life has been interrupted by the supernatural. Like when my eyes open in the morning and …
Midweek Boost: Peaceful Sleep | a Senryu
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump. Happy hump day!
I Wish You, Love©
I wish you—LOVE Love that never lays the blame Playing the I-love-you-more game Love that doesn’t mind being wrong Keeping vows made in tact and strong Love that always generates a smile Melting away, bridging the miles Love built firmly on faith and trust Willing to shift, make change, adjust I wish you—LOVE Love as …
Beauty in Death©
Autumn’s lessons. Trees testimony is true.
Shabbat Shalom, A Poem| God Was©
Before there was before, there was God. God was. God is. God will be.
Love, Into-Me-See©
Intimacy … Into-me-see💕💗💕
Midweek Boost: Love’s Wit
… The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump, being inclusive in your love. Happy hump day!
Life Lived As Poetry©
From the source of spiritual cosmologyConceived in rhythmic movementsBirthed through pulsing pushingPunctuated by intermittent pain and joy LIFE Giving leaning into the ineffableObscured in allusionsDeveloped in plotsComposed in stanzas LIFE LIVED In fragmented syntax of challenges and victoriesLinguistic coding lyrics of uninhibited joy with unimaginable sorrowAlliteration of life’s idioms of transformationReciting poignant epigrams of wondrous …
darkness© World Mental Health Day, 10 October| with audio
Darkness can be from issues that you dare not let anyone see or know about, the issues you struggle with alone and silently … it’s time to open the door, let in the light!
it’s OKAY to NOT BE OKAY – World Mental Health Day | 10 October
it’s OKAY to NOT BE OKAY. Period! https://youtu.be/SXGMWuJZeeo When you're losing your focusAnd you feel too exhausted to prayDon't get lost in the momentOr give up when you're closestWhen you're down and you feel ashamedAll you need is somebody to say It's okay not to be okay 2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved Like what …
Continue reading it’s OKAY to NOT BE OKAY – World Mental Health Day | 10 October
Two Years Anniversary: 🎉🎈🎊Honoring Small Beginnings
Celebrating small beginnings — 2 years blogging!!!
Pursue Me©: A Senryu
If you happen to see something chasing after me, don’t be alarmed. That’s just God’s goodness and His mercy following me every day of my life.
#NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days – Day 15: Love to Love, Stays, by Dawn Minott
Honored to collaborate with Jeff and his beautiful collection of poems, “Nature Speaks” with this piece: “Love to Love Stays” Love won’t leave when love asks for more of it Love to love, stays For Love is a delicate yet strong dance Of push and pull A determined yet dual-minded … #NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in …
Continue reading #NatureSpeaks: 30 #Poems in 30 Days – Day 15: Love to Love, Stays, by Dawn Minott
Perfect In This Moment© | featured on Spillwords
Hi Blogging Friends & Readers! I’m excited to share that another of my piece, “Perfect in this Moment”, is featured on Spillwords. You may read the full poem at this link. While you’re there I’d appreciate if you’d show me/my art some love with a like and your comments. Thanks! Many thanks to Dagmara K., …
Continue reading Perfect In This Moment© | featured on Spillwords
Poetry in Prayer©
Pray for understanding.
Midweek Boost: The Thing About Creativity Is …| A Senryu
Came upon this creative body-as-canvas art in a parade in Costa Rica — Nelson “Madiba” Nelson with a peace dove. How creative uh?! Creativity More you use it, more you have Use it up? You can’t! The attention to detail!!! Astounding!!! There is no end to creativity. The week is long. The weekend is short. …
Continue reading Midweek Boost: The Thing About Creativity Is …| A Senryu
Hidden Talents: You’ll LOL 😂
Well … it’s a rainy rainy day in my part of the world then I got this from a friend that literally made me bust out laughing so loud it drowned the showers away. So, how can I not share with my WP fam: 😂 😆 😝 Hope you laughed!!! Make this a great day …
Wishing Star©
When you wish upon a star and love calls.
Total Eclipse of the Brain©
When heart overrules head, love eclipses logic.
Sunday Photo Reflection #34: Sun In, Cold Out | Haiku
Winter cold trumps fall warmth
Midweek Boost: Who Can?
The week is long. The weekend is short. Midweek is a good point to recharge to get over the hump conquering. Happy hump day!
When Art Speaks: Ode to ARTivism©
… the power of art to ignite activism and inspire change
End Racism, Build Peace©: International Day of Peace | 21 September
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race, gender, class etc.
Midweek Boost: Life After Life
You die once. You live everyday. LIVE!!!
Poems & More 