About Me . . .
   by Kimberly Collins

The secrets about me
Dart
between the lines
Of poems
Me
Sprinkled over words
Offering wisdom

Me
Born in the
Knowledge of Africa's sun
My soul
Marinated in
Seas ruled by Oshun
Spirit
Seasoned with
my ancestors
tears
&smiles

My smile
spreads across my face
Like continents
Brings laughter to hungry
Hearts
in search of themselves

My spirit
says Akwaaba
To pens lifted
In Anticipation
Of
A search
For self

I welcome
selfhood
Not aborted by
Fear
Walking on purpose
Daily to a new me

I teach
Through word play
Wrapped in life lessons
Some bitter
Some sweet
speaking to me
Helping me
listen to my heart's harp
hugging the lyrics
to my
inner song

Since starting her very first diary at the age of seven, Kimberly Collins has realized and respected the healing power of words. Discovering her gift with words and making a decision to be a poet, Kimberly prayed that her words would be a healing to someone . . . and help to heal, she has.  Through her book of poetry, Slightly Off Center; Writing for Healing Workshops; Inspirational columns; essays and countless anthologized poems, Kimberly has answered her prayer again and again.

Since 1992, SOAR's (So Others Ascend Righteously) Writing for Healing workshops havefocused on individual and personal development through meditative writing.

Kimberly believes the power of the pen can release the pain of the past because "you better understand your pain when it's staring back at you," and she knows through personal experience that staring down the pain is how the healing begins. Ultimately, Kimberly teaches others. and reminds herself through each sharing circle, that you have all the tools inside you to claim your space in your relationships with self, home, or the workplace. In between the workshops she encourages everyone she meets to "be good to You!"

Kimberly's writings can be found in:

Black Poets of the Deep South, In The Tradition, The Nubian Gallery, NOBO Journal of African American Dialogue, Theorizing Black Feminism, Fingernails Across the Chalkboard Poetry and Prose on HIV/ AIDS from the Black Diaspora, Mosaic Literary Magazine, Catalyst, Heart and Soul, Essence Magazine and on SeeingBlack.com