My Story

Poetry is more than art. It is the pulse that allows our hearts to beat. It is the quality of air our lungs desire. Poetry is the imprint love leaves behind for others to follow. This is what poetry means to me. 

I’m C’Jae and I’ve been writing poetry for over 20 years. Poetry is what saved me from my dark, depressive, suicidal past. 

As so many others, my childhood was not picture perfect. I suffered from low self-esteem, I’ve witnessed traumatic events, and I was a gay kid growing up in a Christian family. Being queer was not accepted. The only outlet I had was reading fiction books, writing poetry, playing sports, and spending time in nature. 

Dealing with trauma is not easy. If you’re hoping to heal from the scars, it’s going to be a lifelong commitment. You’ll need a community to help carry you whenever you stumble and that’s okay. We need a support system. We need therapist, family, friends, and mentors.

As I mentioned earlier I suffer from depression and anxiety. When I was in dark places I would write down how I felt in my journal. A lot of times this inspired me to write a poem. In the past I was told I was a talented poet and I should consider publishing my work, and so I did. 

I released “The Unraveling of Poetic Self-Love” October 21, 2021. This detailed my walk from self-hatred to self-acceptance. If you’re looking for polished and IG poetry, this book isn’t that. The poems are raw. The poems are real. The poems are authentic. If this is what you appreciate you can join me on my journey. 

Lastly, I posted a few websites for mental health under the Mental Health Resources tab. If you want to learn more please take a look.

Stay strong on your journey.

C’Jae