Johnnie Rawlings
WHAT IS A BIO? ITS A GREEK WORD MEANING LIFE. IMAGINE A BLENDER BLENDING EVERYTHING: YOUR YOUTH, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR SUCCESS, YOUR LOVE, YOUR FAILURES, YOUR DREAMS, YOUR BELIEFS, YOUR HOPES AND YOUR IMAGINATION.
IMAGINE A 5TH GRADER FAILING ENGLISH CLASS WRITING SHORT STORIES TO AVOID SUMMER SCHOOL. HE’S TEACHER TELLS HIM ONE DAY HE’LL BE A WRITER.
THANK YOU MS. GRAY.
IMAGINE A UNIVERSITY STUDENT FAILING ENGLISH CLASS WRITING POETRY TO AVOID DROPPING OUT. HIS PROFESSOR TELLS HIM ONE DAY HE’LL BE A WRITER.
THANK YOU PROFESSOR.
IMAGINE THAT SAME STUDENT FEATURES A POETRY READING. NO BOOKS, CDS OR AWARDS. I FAILED ENGLISH REMEMBER
WHAT IS A BIO? ITS A GREEK WORD MEANING LIFE. IMAGINE A BLENDER BLENDING EVERYTHING: YOUR YOUTH, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR SUCCESS, YOUR LOVE, YOUR FAILURES, YOUR DREAMS, YOUR BELIEFS, YOUR HOPES AND YOUR IMAGINATION.
IMAGINE A 5TH GRADER FAILING ENGLISH CLASS WRITING SHORT STORIES TO AVOID SUMMER SCHOOL. HE’S TEACHER TELLS HIM ONE DAY HE’LL BE A WRITER.
THANK YOU MS. GRAY.
IMAGINE A UNIVERSITY STUDENT FAILING ENGLISH CLASS WRITING POETRY TO AVOID DROPPING OUT. HIS PROFESSOR TELLS HIM ONE DAY HE’LL BE A WRITER.
THANK YOU PROFESSOR.
IMAGINE THAT SAME STUDENT FEATURES A POETRY READING. NO BOOKS, CDS OR AWARDS. I FAILED ENGLISH REMEMBER
Sample Poem
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE POETS OF THE FUTURE?
IF THEY ASKED WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THE PAST?
WOULD YOU TELL THEM IT WAS PLEASANT?
YOUR TIME IN THE PRESENT.
DO YOU THINK ANY OF THEM WOULD GRASP?
WHAT IF THEY SAY THE PAST WAS A PUZZLE?
WOULD YOU HELP THEM PUT PIECES TOGETHER?
WHAT IF THEY’RE NOT IN THE MOOD TO SOLVE RUBIK’S CUBE?
WILL YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO ENDEAVOR?
PAST QUESTIONS. PRESENT LESSONS.
MAKE SURE ALL POETS KNOW IT.
SO WHEN THE AUDIENCE ASKS IT WAS THE POETS WHO HELPED THEM GRASPED.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE FUTURE POETS?
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE POETS OF THE FUTURE?
IF THEY ASKED WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THE PAST?
WOULD YOU TELL THEM IT WAS PLEASANT?
YOUR TIME IN THE PRESENT.
DO YOU THINK ANY OF THEM WOULD GRASP?
WHAT IF THEY SAY THE PAST WAS A PUZZLE?
WOULD YOU HELP THEM PUT PIECES TOGETHER?
WHAT IF THEY’RE NOT IN THE MOOD TO SOLVE RUBIK’S CUBE?
WILL YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO ENDEAVOR?
PAST QUESTIONS. PRESENT LESSONS.
MAKE SURE ALL POETS KNOW IT.
SO WHEN THE AUDIENCE ASKS IT WAS THE POETS WHO HELPED THEM GRASPED.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE FUTURE POETS?
© 2026 Johnnie Rawlings
Johnnie Rawlings was a Featured Poet at the July 2026 Second Sunday Poetry Series
Johnnie Rawlings was a Featured Poet at the July 2026 Second Sunday Poetry Series