National Poetry Month Day One: Iyanla Vanzant "Yesterday, I Cried"

Happy April! 

April is a special month for me in many ways.

First, April is a month of transition. In my home state of North Carolina, the trees begin to bloom, the grass gets greener, and my allergies are in full swing (SMH). The transition from cold, blustery days to warm weather and blue skies begins!

In my personal life, I celebrate April because it is a month of accomplishment. Last April, I took a leap of faith and began this blog. I wrote my first blog post on April 15th, and since then, I have gained over 530 Twitter followers, some Facebook fans, and even picked up a couple of small writing gigs along the way. Do I still have a long way to go? Absolutely. I will not quit nor will I give up.

April is also an accomplishment month for me because it is NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!! More than ever, I am encouraged and inspired to read poetry and dive into my own poetic device.

This month, I want to share some of my favorite poetry with you each day. Today, I will share a poem from Iyanla Vanzant called "Yesterday, I Cried". *all rights reserved to the respective owner*

Sometimes we ALL have to cry with a purpose.

Enjoy!
-T. Amour



"Yesterday, I Cried"

I came home, went straight to my room 
Sat on the edge of my bed, 
kicked off my shoes, 
unhooked my bra, and I had myself a good cry. 

I'm telling you, 
I cried until my nose was running all over 
the silk blouse I got on sale. 
I cried until my ears were hot. 
I cried until my head was hurting so bad 
that I could hardly see the pile of 
soiled tissues lying on the floor at my feet. 

I want you to understand, 
I had myself a really good cry yesterday. 
Yesterday, I cried, 
for all the days that I was too busy, 
or too tired, 
or too mad to cry. 

I cried for all the days, and all the ways, 
and all the times I had dishonored, 
disrespected, and 
disconnected my Self from myself, 
only to have it reflected back to me 
in the ways others did to me 
the same things I had already done to myself. 

I cried for all the things I had given, 
only to have them stolen; 
for all the things I had asked for that 
had yet to show up; 
for all the things I had accomplished, 
only to give them away, 
to people in circumstances, 
which left me feeling empty, 
and battered and plain old used. 

I cried because there really does 
come a time when the only thing left 
for you to do is cry. 

Yesterday, I cried. 
I cried because little boys 
get left by their daddies; 
and little girls get forgotten by their mommies; 
and daddies don't know what to do, so they leave; 
and mommies get left, so they get mad. 

I cried because I had a little boy, 
and because I was a little girl, 
and because I was a mommy 
who didn't know what to do, 
and because I wanted my daddy to be there 
for me so badly until I ached. 

Yesterday, I cried. 
I cried because I hurt. 
I cried because I was hurt. 
I cried because hurt has no place to go 
except deeper into the pain that 
caused it in the first place, 
and when it gets there, 
the hurt wakes you up. 

I cried because it was too late. 
I cried because it was time. 

I cried because my soul knew that I didn't know 
that my soul knew everything I needed to know. 

I cried a soulful cry yesterday, 
and it felt so good. 

It felt so very, very bad. 

In the midst of my crying, 
I felt my freedom coming, 
Because Yesterday, 
I cried with an agenda.