Meet London's First Young Poet Laureate, Warsan Shire!
There have been a few times that I have heard news and responded with a loud "YOU GO GIRL!" When the people around me ask who I am talking to, all too excited, I point to the amazing girl on my screen that I am so proud of. The first time this happened, I was cheering for Gabby Douglas, the young gymnast that took home two Gold medals.
This time, it was Warsan Shire. The Kenyan-born Somali poet is only 24, and her poems have already been translated into Italian, Spanish, Danish, and Estonian. Residing and studying in London, there aren't many in Great Britain that do not know her name. The topics of her poems include English and African culture, war, sex, and love. She has made a very successful career from sharing her vulnerability through poems, while also teaching workshops on how to use poetry to heal trauma. Her first book of poems, Teaching my Mother How to Give Birth, was published in 2011, and she has been breaking boundaries ever since.
Miss Shire was honored by Carol Ann Duffy during the reception in Westminister, and named the official and the FIRST Young Poet Laureate of London earlier this month! YOU GO GIRL! Her journey demonstrates what can happen when you follow your heart, utilize your talents, and work hard.
Buy her latest book HERE !
Check out her tumblr: http://warsanshire.tumblr.com/
And, TELL PEOPLE ABOUT HER!
DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, AND BREAK BOUNDARIES!
