The Rebirth of a Phoenix: A Poetry Collection

By Destinee A. Shipley

"I am not afraid anymore

To stumble upon ashes"

Have you ever wondered what is going on in the mind of someone who is coming into their own power? Who has to fight the u

• Language: English
• Publisher: Firebird Spark, LLC
• Release date: Mar 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985647815

Destinee A. Shipley

Destinee Shipley is the medical student, poet, and now founder of her book publishing business, Firebird Spark, LLC. She has written poetry since late in high school when one of her friends challenged her to write free verse poetry that didn't rhyme, thus breaking her ideas of what poetry could be. She realized that she loved how through poetry she could be her fullest self and finally express the thoughts swirling in her head. That love came in handy during college when she faced many struggles including self-doubt and mental illness, and was entangled in an abusive relationship. Writing gave her stability while her world was in chaos, and upon reflection, showed her just how chaotic her world had become. Poetry was also her way out of that darkness and back into the light of her self-discovery and self-love.Destinee lives in Atlanta, GA and attends Morehouse School of Medicine. She loves to read, play board games, try out new restaurants, and when she thinks it wont bother her neighbors she also likes to practice her saxophone.

Book preview

1

Beginnings

Little Flames

I had to begin somewhere

For there is nowhere I can go but forward

After that

This is the glimpse into the mind

Of a baby bird

Just finding its wings

Misconceptions

I am not all that I seem

There’s more to me that meets the eye

Do not misunderstand the vibes you might be getting

I’m not just a highly intelligent beautiful Black face

I’m not only a purple loving saxophone playing swimmer

I’m beyond a Rubik’s cube solving chess playing goody goody

Just because I cry for things doesn’t mean I’m weak

Just because I hold my tongue doesn’t make me afraid

Just because I’m out of the circle doesn’t confirm I’m not listening

I am blessed and highly favored, for I am a child of God

I am strong and I am powerful,

And I am not one to be reckoned with

Don’t expect me to fall neatly into social norms

I will not suppress my individuality and uniqueness

To cower away from everyone else

I no longer care that I am different

I no longer care that you have misconceptions

I no longer care what you say about me

You should get to know me,

For I am not all that I seem

AM. UNSTOPPABLE.

Unstoppable

Never take your eyes off your target

Or you’ll lose it

Keep pushing to the end

Go above and beyond

No matter what is said

About you

And no matter who says it

Forget them

You’ve got places to go

You’ve got things to do

You’ve got people to meet

You’ve got games to win

When you realize who you are

For yourself

You will be unstoppable

That’s what I heard

Repeating

And repeating again

In my head

And I thought

What is unstoppable?

Unstoppable is fighting the good fight

Win or lose

You die trying

Hesitation does not exist

Because there is no need

To hold back

I have what it takes

Knocked down by waves of can’ts

Kept down by won’ts

Just getting back up

Over

And over

Is defiance

Is showing the world that I

Can do anything

I have confidence in myself

And my own abilities

Almost makes me a little bit

Stubborn

Knowing that I can

That I should

That I will

Win

You think you’ve finished me

Convinced yourself that I

Can no longer move forward

But

You fail to realize

That the only way

ONLY WAY to stop me

Is to ensure that I am brain dead

So I can no longer think

No longer motivate myself

But nevertheless

It’s not about proving myself

To you

I prove to me

Everyday, in everything

And everywhere I go

I am

UNSTOPPABLE

Personality

In terms of morals, I have several, but for every one of them, I stick to them and I stick to them strongly. I always try to stay firmly rooted in my beliefs and values—I guess that makes me a little stubborn. I am, however, able to see multiple perspectives of an argument. I’m proud, yet always try to be humble.

I always think things through, but many of my initial assumptions/reactions are based on emotion. I’m a very emotional person: I sympathize/empathize easily, sometimes I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I cry (not easily, but I do cry). I am an optimist and always try to see the best in people and situations, but I’m not naive to negativity. I can become jealous of others, and I’m not a fan of things not going my way. I’m confident in many things, but not all. I tend to want affirmation from others about what I already know, but I’m gradually getting away from that.

Overall, I’m the caring, helpful type, the good listener, insightful, intelligent.

Survival

Survival:

Like swimming in dangerous waters or something