There’s a difference between hearing and listening
For 19 years, I heard my voice
As sweet as honey
As smooth as a baby's skin
With an alto voice range
It rang in my head through the day and night
By plenty conversations I had with peers and family alike
See, I sounded sophisticated
Like a classy woman who knows her value
I sounded professional with big words I learned
From many novels I fancied
But I didn't listen to my voice
I heard the authority
I know what I said and I heard what I spoke
One day I decided to listen to my voice
I wrote a poem to a 14 year old
Telling baby girl to not be so shy
Telling baby girl to not be afraid to be herself
Telling baby girl that she's a precious diamond who didn't burst
Under the pressure that surrounded her
And I listened
And understood why some say women like me are too loud
They know our voices will cause shifts
And make some changes
I ignored them and wrote more
I performed at open mics
I listened to the raw talent and the voice I ignored
My attention was caught by the voice I was blessed with
Just like loud thunder and lightning
It boomed and caused many to listen to me
My voice needs to be heard and will continue to be heard
For as long as I can
My voice will sustain me
After all, my voice doesn't lie to me
-Mia J
11/9/2018
© 2018 Mia J

Of course I miss long conversations
At night with a deep voice in my ear
Sure I miss going out every weekend
Enjoying the presence of a special someone
Being wrapped in a man’s arms does sound relaxing
Listening to his heartbeat
Telling him whatever is on my mind
Him making me laugh
Occasionally buying me flowers
Sending me sweet text messages
And being the only caller ID I care about
However
It’s just a want
And by no means a need
I want a man who compliments me
I don’t mean just calling me beautiful
I want a man whose continuously learning
Someone who has or is working for a degree
And has a personal relationship with God
Who drives his own whip
And isn’t so caught up on material things
However
That seems too much too ask for
Many would fall at any man’s feet
But I can’t
No I don’t have a checklist
But if he’s coming in my life
He better have something going on
I’m not desperate
I refuse to accept someone who isn’t trying for nothing
I’m a woman of high value
My confidence is in the walk I do
It’s in the way I carry myself
See I know who I am
And the special man coming has to know the same
My standards may be too high for some
I may come off as stuck up
For not giving just any man a chance
At the end of the day
If I’m pushing 30 years old still single
The last thing I did was settle
I will be living my best life
Man or no man
I’m comfortable with my singleness
Until the right guy comes along who treats me right
And means me well
I’ll continue to be single and happy
Than in a relationship and silently miserable
-Mia J
02/26/2019

© 2019 Mia J

Black girl, black girl, look in the mirror.
Do you know who that woman is you see?
Study her for a few seconds.
What do you think of her?
Is she to you what she is to others?
Anyone can tell you she’s beautiful,
but it means nothing if your eyes don’t glisten on their own.
Her cheekbones are high and may puff out like that
gorgeous afro she rocks when the weather is nice.
Black girl, black girl, look in the mirror.
Who do you really see?
Plump lips, deep brown eyes, and chocolate skin is what you see.
But who do you see?
She isn’t just any kind of woman.
No, no, no
That’s a strong woman in that mirror.
She has a head on her shoulders filled with positive thoughts.
Such as one day making the world hers and inspiring others.
You’re looking at a woman who is bad.
She knows who she is and she ain’t afraid to be herself.
She’s a woman who moves with clarity and purpose.
She believes that nothing is impossible for her to do.
Is she perfect?
Not at all.
She’s made mistakes but she’s learned from them and became the woman she
stands as today.
Black girl, black girl you’re staring at profound greatness and destiny.
You forgot who you are so I thought
I’d remind you.
This world will never keep a strong
woman like you down.
Look in that mirror and blow a
thousand kisses to the woman that you see.
Everyday won’t be easy.
But you remember who you
are and make this world your Queendom beautiful!!
-Mia J
7/3/2020  

© 2020 Mia J

Let me school you about a girl I know very well
She’s one of the realest
Grew up in the Peach state
She was called a nerd because her nose stayed in a book
She was labeled as white because she talks “proper”
And she listens to other music other than rap
Queen, Def Leppard, and Journey
They called her weird because she stayed to herself
They just couldn’t understand her
Look here,
She’s set to the side
This girl is one puzzle piece who doesn’t fit in
Neither does she try to
She ain’t gotta talk to everyone
Not everybody deserves her time
She reads and writes because her voice needs to be heard
She listens to what she wants to because she can
They cast her out as a missfitt
But she don’t mind
She ain’t got no shame
Her favorite rapper told her the realest people won’t have lots of friends
He told her to keep her head up
That the only one who could judge her was the man up above
He told her it’s her against the world
See, the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice
The more she’s herself
The more she’ll be in touch with her roots
The girl has values and morals
She won’t dare settle just for bragging rights
Being a missfitt makes her unique
Being a missfitt makes her ****
Being herself is freeing
Dark skin, stretch marks, plus knowledge beyond her years
I adore this girl
Being myself the “nerd”
See, this is for the ones who ain’t afraid
To show off their natural physique
The ones with piercings and armbands and glasses and tattoos all over
For the ones who are fearlessly themselves
A missfitt is not a ******
Rather a person who is fearlessly themselves
And nothing or no one else but that
11-26-2018
-Mia J

© 2018 Mia J

My sister, my sister what happened to you?
You were so beautiful and unique
Now you’ve warped into a new being
Physically you hate what you see
You want airbags and silicone
It’s your body so do what you please
But when one pops and the other drops
You were beautifully unique
My sister, my sister what happened to your mindset?
You once dreamed of love, now you hate it
You can’t hate something you never truly had
Every man doesn’t cheat
Every man won’t hurt you
My sister, my sister what happened to your self-esteem?
Was it there once?
Did too much media change it?
Were you told that your standards are too high?
Why do you call yourself an animal?
It’s not affectionate
Neither cute
A man can’t call you that
Neither should you or your friends
No matter how it’s said, it’s still disrespectful
My sister, my sister you’re a Queen
Behave like one
12/11/2018
-Mia J

© 2018 Mia J

Black Mare, Black Mare.
Do you know who you are?
The outside is clear to see,
But the inside, you have yet to meet.
Don’t let the mystery puzzle you Black Mare.
Dig deep and accept your power and truly get to know the real you.
The power that lives within is unimaginable.
Many can’t understand the fearlessness that you have,
But you Black Mare, oh you know exactly who you are.
You let the fear of the unknown stop you.
Life is only a chocolate box.
And fear is only an allusion programmed to you.
Black Mare, the world needs you.
Black Mare, don’t you know who you are?
Don’t you know that you were put here to do anything you could imagine?
You were put here to make a change.
To inspire the other Mares around you and behind you.
To let them know that they could be a Queen like you.
Black Mare, Black Mare,
Your blackness represents strength.
Your trot that turned into a strut is power and grace.
Black Mare, you were fashioned to be amazing.
That vision you have of yourself will come to pass.
Accomplish whatever you want.
Step out on faith and make this world yours.
And all you have to do is believe that you are everything you can and will become.
Black Mare, Black Mare you are a stunning sight to see.
Black Mare, Black Mare change your thoughts.
And become that woman that you are destined to be.
Mia J
-5/13/2019  

© 2019 Mia J

Baby, what have you done to me?
I’m about to lose my very sanity over you my darling.
My thoughts are filled with nothing but you.
I think of a future that I want you to initiate.
One where you’re my lover.
You’d make the good days better.
And the bad days are made more bearable by your kind words and peaceful presence.
I’m told I overthink things, but you’re worth every thought my love.
Even when I try not to think of you, I still do.
Whenever you walk towards me, my hands begin to shake.
My heart skips a beat when you look at me.
And when you smile, chills cover my outer being.
You entertain me with conversations about life.
You excite me with you just being you.
I’ve heard that no one is perfect.
But I would argue that you are my love.
That perfect gentleman is you and all you.
My goodness, feels like I’ve known you my whole life.
I crave you in a way that’s not how it sounds.
One ****** move would ruin this sweet thang.
I have a passion for you that won’t be understood by most.
It would be thought of as lust.
No, I need a spiritual connection where I know it’s nothing but raw emotions.
Your arms wrapped around my body letting me know I’m secure.
A soft caress on my cheek would make my dark skin have a small hint of pink.
A soft kiss from your plump lips would set my heart ablaze.
24 hours with you wouldn’t be enough.
Perhaps an extra 1 could be added.
Just to admire the beautiful man that you are.
What have you done to me, my love?
Time decided to bring you into my comfortable life.
She couldn’t have decided on a more perfect setting.
Day by day, I thought of you.
I dreamed of you and thought that soon,
He’ll be my King.
It didn’t need to work out with any of my exes.
And you’re the reason why.
My love for you passes every moon and every star that was created.
See, now and again, I want to let you know that I appreciate you for who you are.
From me to you my love.
From me to you.



-Mia J
8-7-2018

© 2018 Mia J