Today we’d like to introduce you to Shockie Grant

Hi Shockie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I am a Poet and Author. I have always used writing as a means of understanding and organizing experiences around me. I tend to see things through a different lens and poetry is a beautiful way to capture those images and make it relevant and relatable to others. While initially this was and has been a means of catharis for myself, I have learned that others are able to relate and find comfort in my healing journey. This makes me go out into the community to share pieces and have conversations that are often silenced due to stigma.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

I wouldn’t say it has. But I also know there are people who have had things go much worse for them, so I try not to complain. Losing my mother in 2011 after a tumultuous childhood is an event that affects me deeply. It resulted in losing a large amount of familial support and relationships. It is hard to move through life without that and I have been lucky to be resilient and still keep going. Estrangement and unresolved conversations with family find its way into a good amount of my poetry. As well as therapy and mental health surrounding it. Loneliness and grief are two very strong emotions that everyone can relate to and look for help navigating. While I am not a mental health professional, I hope my poetry can help people see the other side of loss.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am a poet. I am proud to be able to speak my truth and in some cases the truth of the world around us. Mostly I want to make a difference in the communities I am a part of as they are often ostracized or oppressed. I believe all of our stories are important and need to be told. I am just one small part of that, but I have teamed up and will continue with other poets and creatives to make a bigger impact.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

Covid is an example that education and literacy is an important part of our daily lives. It shapes the way we deal with each other from verbal communication down to physical. It forms our empathy and social skills before anything. If we have nothing else left our ability to appeal to the humanity in each other will always be our biggest asset.

Pricing:

• $25.00 to purchase my book “in Lieu of Flowers” from my website shockiegpoetry.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Shockiegpoetry.com
• Instagram: Shockieg_the_poet

Image Credits

Andrew Torn