Gathering Light.
Background of this poem:
I woke up today with my name on a list I once only dreamed of. The 2025 Creative Future Writers Awards. Shortlisted for my poem "Bad Dates, Dead Monkeys". It feels both surreal and grounding, like stepping into a light I did not know was waiting for me. Writing has been my quiet prayer, my small rebellion, my way of making sense of the world. To be seen in this way reminds me that stories matter, voices matter, hope matters. I will keep writing, keep reaching, because this is only the beginning and I am deeply thankful.
