“I whisper your name hoping you’d return
As if you have the ears to listen to me anymore
I’ve wished you back for every dandelion that has ever crossed my cheek
The same way you would brush mine
I’ve skipped countless stones hoping you would become a boomerang
And spring back into my arms
But I guess that’s my new reality
Switch lives with you and now I know how it hurt
To walk away from a half-stitch wound completely giving up on it
Tossed it back into the sea as if it were yesterday’s catch
And I may have caught you off-guard by reaching out after it all… ”
Excerpt from “A Summer’s Dream” By Kiana Maria**
Words have always come naturally to Kiana Maria, especially in the form of poetry, both written and verbal. Kiana began writing at the age of seven, but truly discovered her passion for poetry during the second grade, when her teacher assigned her class to write a poem about any life-changing experience. Kiana chose to write about her younger sister’s birth; although simple and seemingly mundane, this small assignment opened up a floodgate for Kiana’s love for poetry.
Over the next several years, she continued to develop this passion through various ways; in fourth grade, she entered her school’s talent show and recited a poem about the life of a child. This passion carried on long to her middle and high school years, the latter of which was when she truly developed her poetry more seriously by engaging in larger events. In 2019, Kiana opened for an off-Broadway show called Rebel Verses at the Vineyard Theatre, in New York, which was held by a nonprofit called Developing Artists. Kiana notes that as the best performing experience she has ever had, as it truly opened her eyes to performing poetry to a large group of people.
Kiana’s process of writing poetry starts with the observation of the world around her: she mainly writes about personal experiences and her surroundings. She thinks about a certain topic, perhaps from her past, and writes down everything she is thinking, every thought or word that comes to mind. And after she feels satisfied, she starts editing the words to make it sound cohesive.
For Kiana, poetry has always been more than just words on a paper. Being bullied in middle school, poetry was an escape from reality -- it was a “safe haven.” There is a feeling of freedom with poetry and writing, which Kiana notes is one of her favorite things about writing and performing poetry. Kiana grew up shy, never really speaking up about her feelings, but through poetry, she has since found her voice: she has not and will not stop fighting for what she believes in through these powerful words. And she aims to do the same for other little girls; in the future, she strives to inspire young girls to express themselves, be it through dance, poetry, art, music, or whatever passion they may have.
Kiana’s advice for others trying to pursue their passion?
“Do it for yourself. Don’t try to pursue something you don’t like to prove a point, or try to do it for other people’s opinions. The only opinion that matters is yours. Do what makes you happy, even if people have something to say. If they do, you make sure your voice is louder.”
**Watch the whole "A Summer's Dream" by Kiana Maria here (time stamp 2:05:55)
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