Speak, Poet!

Speak, Poet! is a brazen collection of poems by the poet, writer, spoken word artist and literary activist known as Freedom Speaks. Filled with poems charged by love, vulnerability, and triumph, Speaks takes an intimate yet demanding approach to addressing the psychosocial-political-spiritual concerns of a black woman in America approaching age thirty. Uncensored and candid while still maintaining its intellectual patina, this volume, which is Speaks' second poetry compilation, calls for a much needed healing via self-actualization. Poems like "The Power Button," "Word Possession," "Desperation," and "Where are their mothers?" allow readers a glimpse into the work Speaks writes but does not often perform, while signature pieces like "Divinity," "Chaos in the Dome," and "Afrika Be Us," which have received considerable acclaim are included as well. Speak, Poet! alludes that one must recognize and speak his or her truth even if only to oneself, even if it hurts, and even if that truth periodically changes, in order to experience its therapeutic effects. This collection is recommended for all who are struggling to find their own voice or free themselves from emotional constraints, as well as for all who find comfort in the bittersweet outbursts of poets who speak with their best interest at heart.