Thoughts, Prayers, and Poetry

Many artists have stated that when crafting their art it’s similar to a form of prayer. For an artist who has found a way to speak their truest, comparing the act of making art with the act of prayer or meditation makes sense. But from what I’ve found, there is no other art form so close to prayer as poetry. 

For Alexis Dibbs (also known as Lex), doing poetry is for nourishment, for rejuvenation, for reflection, and for prayer. It’s a spiritual act. 

“Prayer is a form of poetry,” she tells me. I mention that I find this comparison interesting. Most people flip it around, saying that poetry is like prayer, but to Lex, prayer falls under the category of poetry. If you knew her, this isn’t surprising, given her Catholic upbringing. However, upon discussing poetry more with her, I found that she believes poetry encapsulates a lot more than just a form of meditation.  

“Sometimes it feels like the only way you can express yourself,” she continues. Lex reflects on what it’s like to hear other poets speak as well. She’s been a frequenter of open mics and shows such as Super Duper Fresh, and even won poet of the month at Brooklyn Poets. When she hears other poets read, she discovers sides of people that may not be easily accessible when having a simple chat. 

“What I think makes a good poet is the effortlessness of it.” Poetry isn’t a thing to be forced or monetized. And Lex plans to keep it that way. Her art has a role in her life. “I do think that it’s something deeper within you that’s kind of telling you Iike, “oh, this is what your meant to do…it seems more like something I crave, as opposed to something that I’m forced to do.” And she has been doing it for many years. 

Whenever she journaled as a kid, it was filled with poetry or prose. She doesn’t seem to question why that is or where it came from, only that it’s part of her and that it’s the truest way to reveal something inside of her. It’s a way for her to connect with the world around her, deepen her understanding of herself and others, and to explore emotions at their rawest. 

“Writing poems about my friends like – it just makes me have a deeper appreciation for them.” It’s a love for an art without stress, without standards, and without boundaries. In a world where everyone wants to capitalize on their talents, it’s refreshing to meet people who couldn’t think of a world where they force themselves to “be productive.”