The World of Undiscovered Poets: Lattice Johnson
When silence grabs hold of you at a young age, and you feel like there is not a soul in the world who will listen to you, Poetry will lend it's ears. Sometimes, when the thoughts in your head are building to the point that they will burst out, a pen and a paper can save your wrists from a razor. Poetry has been there for us in one way or another ever since we learned to let our emotions spill out of a pen, and Poetry has definitely been there for the poet I would like you all to discover this week.
Lattice Johnson A.K.A. Poetic Soultress
I first met Lattice Johnson on Myspace, and she took an interest in my poetry which lead me to start writing for a group called Soldiers of Expression. Soldiers of Expression was kind of like Lattice's baby, because she made sure the different poets who contributed always had their blog topics ready and the group ran like clockwork. Her commitment to poetry was evident even in my first impressions of her.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Lattice grew up in an environment where survival and not becoming a product of the environment was her main goal. She started writing poetry early on, because it was her only outlet for her emotions. Growing up was rough, because she just didn't have that one person in her life that you could talk about anything with, so Lattice grew up depending on herself.
Reading Lattice Johnson's poetry is like stepping into the world of a super woman. With poetic influences like Maya Angelou, Tupac Shakur and Tarringo Vaughan, her poetry reads with inner strength, the will to never die, and the convictions to speak the truth no matter what. This poetess has faced her trials, and still has the will to be great as can be seen in this original poem.
A Crystal That Blooms
by Lattice Johnson
I'm down once again
But this time its different
Seeing things in a different way
Seeing people for who they truly are
Knowing the person, the woman I have grown to be
Is now alone and friendless
Cause those she thought understood her and knew her struggle
Smacked her in the face to a better understanding
That jealousy,envy and wanting to be her..
Walks in their heart
Better yet..
Thinking you are better then me spread them apart
I just see the different levels that we stand on
I face my good times in a picture perfect frame
Instead of loose booty money shaking moments
I have moved on, grew up and seen blooming possibilities
Even though I'm down and facing it all alone
It's different now being at rock bottom
This time...
I'll hold my head high, I'll smile and I'll smile
Knowing I have to fight to get back up
Move on to bigger and better
Stop feeling sorry for myself
Don't care about who has my back and who walks away
I know I deserve all my heart's desires
My faith is greater then my fears of failure
Cause the devil is riding my back
Trying to keep me down
Placing voices in my head
Telling me worthless phrases in hopes I believe them
I'm down once again but this time its different
No shattered glass I see...
I only see expensive crystals of a must have success
Lattice Johnson has recently published a book of poetry called "My Valleys Are Temporary", and has a novel on the way soon. She has been a mentor to many undiscovered poet's and has contributed much of herself to the world of poetry. If you would like to find out more about the Poetic Soultress visit the following links:
