I Write...

Sound Poem for I Write...

Amongst the cries and shouts of chidren invading my writting cave I write

They are in here and they should'nt be, but still I have five mintues or so, so I write

Despite not knowing if writting would take me places and 

I suspose that is the adventure 

Not knowing where it leads and what doors open by continuously

Trying to fulfill my dreams

I write

And yes I do sit and daydream of going somewhere making some money and 

Publishing a book or two

But I am content even if the places I go to is just in my mind

Just those feelings of happines because I just enjoy what I do  

I write and enter realms of unknown and let my creativity flow for my own enjoyment I know

I don't even know if the stuff I write on my blog reaches anywhere or if people feel inspired and

Connect with that side of me I sometimes hide from the world because its personal

I just write for the fun of it and

In those moments of saddeness and there have been many I engulf myself with paper and pen

Or glide my fingers on a touchscreen 

Or stamp out tap tapping beats into silence and 

Get those thoughts out with tears and prayers

And let my pen bleed

I am not ready to show those poems to the world they stay locked away in my intimate space

In the place that belongs to me and me alone

Still I write

And I am excited by the different parts of me and

Finally after years I have found me and my creative writing identity

Fitting together in me like pieces of a puzzle

A part of me like the back bone that holds me

Just for the sake of it I write...

Copyright © 2014 Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks) 

All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks)

International Women's Day: My Tribute

It's another year and another International Women's Day - 'inspiring change' is this years theme. A change in this unequal world where women's equality is of unimportance in many parts. A change to the violence against women. A time for change and for people of power to promote and motivate a change. When I think of celebrating women's achievements I think of those who have suffered and have overcome. Who have - despite the hardships and the trauma they have been through - have been able to rise, to be an inspiration to others and kick sand in the eyes of those who tried to sit them permanently onto the seat of oppression. A place where the oppressor  tries to take control of their mind, body and soul.


Women across this world have been able to rise and a poem from one of my favourite poets Maya Angelou  fits this years theme of 'inspiring change' and my own sub-theme 'women rising'. The poem is called 'Still I Rise' and it has been an honour for me to create this sound poem.

Last year I read 'Possessing the Secret of Joy' by Alice Walker. In an author's note at the end of this book, Alice Walker writes that between ninety million and one hundred million girls and women alive today have undergone the procedure Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Reading this book was an emotional journey for me, I have been aware of FGM for many years, but have never read a novel where it was the theme. It left my heart in tears for a very long time and encouraged me to do further research. It is time for a change amongst particular groups of people, a change of so-called tradition and for the voices of these women imprisoned in these groups to be heard. Victims of FGM I hear you! This is my shout out against FGM!


Sound poem for Lesser Woman

Lesser Woman 

Amongst the cries of death that sat smoking fags on the winds that blew through
In between the screams
Minor unwelcoming pauses offer no comfort as mind lose consciousness
Blank void empty vacant
Dead to the world switched off it seems
Detached forcefully removed from current reality
Although not oblivious to the pain that became
That ripped through with rage every nerve and tissue and skin and flesh and
Veins pumped filled with red blood
It sprayed and splattered and soaked and flooded
It dripped loud like thunder and shook that bloody hut

Every drop of blood that fell made me become less
A lesser girl a lesser female a lesser woman
Genderless a lesser sex by those considered to be a greater
A place stuck in the realms, in the middle of male and female
I am nothing it seems
An unwanted spot on flawless skin
To be plucked like female chin hair
Soon no longer two mouths but one through which I scream and I scream and I scream
Palms hold me down
Arms push my legs open wide
Eyes avoid locking with mine

Human flesh became a fish gutted by fish monger hands
They cut me they gutted me
Meat cattle a lamb to the slaughter
Shove me into a burger and you sell me like the junk food you think I am
Even a rat won't sniff me won't give me a second glance
They'll just walk right over that piece of me you threw out in the yard

They cut me
And celebrated the fact that they cut me
Under the banner of tradition superstition
The suffering of the girls and woman a taboo not to be told
Whispered in nightmares mutilation flashbacks
The attack on the very thing that makes me a woman
With a swift movement of the blade I became a lesser woman

Copyright © 2014 Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks) 

All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks)