My first Poet of the People for 2025 is Rian N. Jenkins.
Rian has been a fixture on the Midlands poetry scene for many years as both a poet, spoken word artist and mentor. She is a beacon of light who empowers and promotes others with her positivity and I'm proud to call her, Friend.
~Al Black
Rian N Jenkins has been in love with writing since sixth grade. For over 30 years, she has inspired, entertained, and educated many through poetry, novellas, journalism, and performances. In 2021, she added author to her resume. She has published three poetry anthologies and looks forward to debuting her first children’s book, A Blessing for The World, and her first middle grades novel, Reverse.
A native of Sumter, SC, she graduated from Ridge View in ‘98 in Columbia, SC and Winthrop University in ‘03. She has roots in Edisto Island, Hollywood and St Helena Island; she is the mother of a brilliant and talented young king and is a podcaster who speaks on topics that spread light.
A former teacher (twenty years) and a spoken word artist, author, mentor and program director of CROWN HER, formerly known as the ROSES mentoring program, she is a LIT specialist who does book talks online while sponsoring All Black Author Book Drive and Giveaway in the Columbia area. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, watch sports, especially football or a good show that entertains while causing her to push her pen, thrift, and eat at different restaurants.
To learn more information about her or how to book her for a performance, author visit, writer’s workshop or find her on social media, visit her website, www.riannjenkins.com.
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“Determined”
Determined.
He was fleeing.
With raindrops streaming down his face
as in attempting to be an obstacle
deterring him from the finish line.
Crying too many times almost eroded the lifeline.
Despite the sun not shining,
he finally saw the light,
his way out.
His breakthrough is attainable, worth the fight.
Determined
Marching down the busiest road.
Bumper to bumper traffic doesn’t stop him
from rolling two suitcases, one with a broken wheel,
along with the weight of the two more bags,
one on his back wasn’t enough defer his dream,
obtaining the reality of freedom.
Pausing only to catch his breath.
He would not abort the mission.
Determined.
Nothing was going to stop him.
The raindrops are falling,
creating what some would deem
a collision course with reckless drivers.
Rainy days evoke a clash of wills
provoking fatigue among the weak.
Intimidated out of the belief of worthiness.
Determined, deserving of every promise.
He refused to get tired
He knows he is strong enough to walk through rain.
The pain of staying is enough to push anyone insane.
Determined.
He wouldn’t remain, waste away, abandoning hope.
This rain didn’t compare to the storm he faced for years.
He didn’t care how many breaks he had to take.
He didn’t care about onlookers wondering where he is going.
Ignoring their annoyance echoing in the blaring of horns.
He knows his destination.
Endless cycles was no longer an option.
Too legit to quit.
Determined
Resilience is the cape that flies behind him,
undergirding him to pull two suitcases, one with a broken wheel,
the weight of the two more bags, one on his back
wasn’t enough defer his dream,
obtaining the reality of freedom
through a busy street
that would deem a borderline a highway
scaring away any boldness.
Yet, he is careful to avoid traffic.
Nothing was going to stop him from this journey.
Determined.
~~~
“Unveiling”
Why do we carry the young into spaces
to witness brilliance
they may not remember
may not cherish or relish
embrace like a desired toy?
Maybe we will awaken a space
in their heart that is dormant.
Unknowing or cognizant of the potential
of what can grow if we expose young eyes and minds
to a future they didn’t know existed.
Culture is what it is giving.
Experiences that can be
life changing.
Igniting a passion, a dream to be lived as reality.
Inspiring, empowering, impacting
Reverberating in the souls and spirits of many
a contagious energy elevating and illuminating this earth.
Maybe we also understand
we can never be content with saying he or she is the first
with no one standing in line to carry the baton, the legacy.
We beam with pride as they roll their eyes
Because we carry them into spaces
to witness magnificence
Permeating their psyche with images
alternating destiny.
Igniting a passion, a dream to be lived as reality.
Inspiring, empowering, impacting
Reverberating in the souls and spirits of many
a contagious energy elevating and illuminating this earth.
Maybe we sense the gift God placed in their spirit
Cultivation and irrigation is needed for it to sprout
So we ignore the pouts on their faces
When we carry them into spaces
To witness eminence
Identifying the journey God has for them.
Igniting a passion, a dream to be lived as reality.
Inspiring, empowering, impacting
Reverberating in the souls and spirits of many
a contagious energy elevating and illuminating this earth