Spoken Word Poetry: Permission

Written By: Nicoli Alexander

On a flight back from San Francisco a few weeks ago I put my headphones in and wrote several poems.  I have been inspired to put some of my thoughts into poetry.  I have not worked out what I am going to do with some of this work quite yet.  I may try to go to an open mic night and perform one of them in front of a crowd. 

This poem was based around the reoccurring thought that passes through my mind about people waiting for permission.  Whether you ask someone who is young or old about what would they do if they did not have to worry about money, many people have a passion that they do not allow themselves to pursue.  Most of us have a laundry list of reasons why we can't pursue this passion.  Whether that is time, money, insecurity, fear, regret or family. We were put on this earth with gifts that we are supposed to share with the world.  I am still working through some of my creative blocks, and this poem is speaking directly to that fear that keeps most of us from using these gifts.

Permission 

So many of us wait for it

Wait for that moment

That moment when we are told

Told who we should be

Be who we were meant to be

So many of us wait for it

For someone to come along

Come along and shine a light

A light to shine in the night

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to inspire

To Evolve

To Learn

Permission to shine

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to thrive

To Create

To Grow

Permission to be alive

So many of us lose our way

Lose our way waiting on another day

Another day is nothing like now

Now is the time to make that change

That change is on its way

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to inspire

To Evolve

To Learn

Permission to shine

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to thrive

To Create

To Grow

Permission to be alive

No one is coming to save you

Save you from yourself my dear

My dear it's you

It's you that you're looking for

Looking for that light inside

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to inspire

To Evolve

To Learn

Permission to shine

No one is going to give you permission

Permission to be you

Permission to thrive

To Create

To Grow

Permission to be alive