Local woman dreams of sharing poetry with the world
Latasha Smith isn’t letting spina bifida slow down her dreams of writing poetry that touches the hearts of others, raises awareness of issues that mean so much to her and brings a smile to the face of someone who needs it.
“I’ve been writing since I was about 8 years old,” Smith said, “but it’s only been the last six months or so that I started writing poetry.”
Smith said poetry fits her personality better. “With my attention span, it’s easier for me to write shorter things,” she said.
Smith said it’s also easier to share her thoughts when she knows she won’t have to keep track of plots and characters.
“I just woke up one day and had two poems in my head. I grabbed paper really quick and wrote them down. I don’t even know where they came from,” Smith said.
She said when she can’t think of a subject to write about, she asks her mom for ideas.
“I like to write about old-fashioned things. I like to write poetry that brings awareness to topics, like autism and organ donation,” Smith said.
When her cousin, Dean Poole II, was killed in an accident, she wrote this poem for her aunt and uncle. It’s called “Donate Life.”
“As one adventure ends, another one may begin. All because of a selfless act, just think about what you are giving back. A sightless mother’s very first look at her child that, my sweet soul, is not to be taken mild. One event can cause a ripple effect — one brave decision leads to a nation opening their minds to organ donation. Spread the word, shed a light, let it be known that those touched by organ donation will never stand alone.”
“I’d like to write a book of poetry some day and have my sister, Trista, draw the illustrations for it. I keep trying to think about a subject for a whole book, but maybe I’ll just put lots of my favorite poems in it,” Smith said.
She adds pictures to her poems because she feels if people see an interesting picture, they might enjoy reading the poem more. Her mom helps her create all kinds of pictures from poster board, glitter and other items to go with her poetry.
Another of her poems is called “Mirrors.”
“Mirrors in which we do confide. Mirrors from which we cannot hide. They see our beauty and so much more. Society wants us to conform, but we see you are so much more than what society takes us for.”
Smith said her mom, Mary, helps keep her organized. “I like to write about causes and current events. My dream job would be writing poetry,” she said.
When Smith isn’t busy writing, she enjoys her family’s many animals and playing with her nephews.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
