Silent Serenity also known as Raven Shadows

Welcome to my world.....





"You won't always have success when you take a stand - but the more you stand up for what you believe is right, the greater chance you have of being true to yourself and taking less crap."

There are as many definitions of poetry as there are poets! Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;" Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" and Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing!"



Poetry is a lot of things to a lot of people!

So what is poetry?

Perhaps the characteristic most central to the definition of poetry is its unwillingness to be defined, labeled, or nailed down! But let's not let that stop us, shall we? It's about time someone wrestled poetry to the ground and slapped a sign on its back reading, "I'm poetry! Kick me here."

Poetry is the chiseled marble of language; it's a paint-spattered canvas - but the poet uses words instead of paint, and the canvas is you! Poetic definitions of poetry kind of spiral in on themselves, however, like a dog eating itself from the tail up! Let's get nitty! Let's, in fact, get gritty!

So again, What is poetry?

Poetry is artistically rendering words in such a way as to evoke intense emotion or an Ah Ha experience from the reader!

Pretty unsatisfying, huh? Kind of leaves you feeling cheap, dirty, all hollow and empty inside.....like Chinese food!

Don't do this! Don't shackle poetry with your definitions! Poetry is not a frail and cerebral old woman, you know! Poetry is stronger than you think! Poetry is imagination and will break those chains faster than you can say "Harlem Renaissance!"

To borrow a phrase, poetry is a riddle wrapped in an enigma swathed in a cardigan sweater......or something like that! It doesn't like your definitions and will shirk them at every turn! If you really want to know what poetry is, read it! Read it carefully! Pay attention! Read it out loud! Now read it again!

There's your definition of poetry! Because defining poetry is like grasping at the wind - once you catch it, it's no longer wind!



My name is Leigh-Anne, known as "Silent Serenity"! I am what I am....so for judgement I don't give a damn!

I could choose to be purely good, but I will not! I could choose to be purely evil, but I will not! I will be neutral! In that way I am free to be what suits me best, and no one can predict my actions!

In life we travel many highways,
Both long and short, twisting, narrow and wide!
This life sets upon our path many great things that play powerful roles!
Roles that effect, change, enrich and evolve our lives!

As a poet traversing these highways, I embrace what they bring into my life!
The Challenges, Successes. Joy, and sorrow too!
It is these experiences that have made me,
Words are part of my highway, my path!
They are the reflection of my thoughts, my feelings, and Emotion!
My words are the musings, ideas and opinions of the world in which I walk!
The roads of this life are endless!

I am always learning, always being enlightened,
And hopefully enlightening others with my ink!
To know me is to know and feel the heart of my words!
If at times my words leave you feeling confused,
Don't hesitate to ask about what I was musing when I wrote a given piece!
I don't bite!

Peace, Calm, Compassion and Understanding are at the center of who I am as a person!
I believe everyone has a voice and and that voice needs to be heard, thus I make it a practice of listening! As I listen to your story, and you listen to mine! You'll find that many highways connect and cross! It is at those interchanges of life we find our friendships, sharing similarities and paving a way to better understanding of one another!
Of life, living, lives, and existence in this World!

I've been writing ever since I was 12 years old! It's what got me through some very tough times in my life & still keeps me sheltered & safe! Writing is my power & release! I can control your emotions with a single stroke of my keyboard! My mind to words are a dangerous combination! But enjoy the ride!



I am still in the process of learning who I am! I know what I want out of life but that to me is just living & not what is internally within me! We all experience times where we are one way & then change for another but for me it's the process of finding out who I am as a whole! I have so many sides to me that it becomes a continual battle which as feisty as I am I will prevail in accepting myself worth!

I have a fire within that needs to be controlled! It burns with passions & desires that are not reachable....just yet! I am a Gemini which has many sides to myself, my darker side keeps me level headed but I have a passion for life itself & the people in it!

Most of my poems are my thoughts & what I have gone through in my life! Also sometimes I'm speaking for others who can't speak for themselves! Most people think they can't write because of fear, fear of what people will think of them, fear of what they will think of themselves! I say use this site to make your release known & share amoungst people who will understand you!

Some of my poems are too deep & some may not be able to handle them (those I'll post in time) but I still hope that my poems will be accepted for everyone's soul screams out to be heard! I am a required taste, not for everyone, but I have a passion for writing & I believe that makes us a lot alike!

Writing is the world I embrace, writing is the words I understand with you! Writing is what we'll always have in common!



I don't look for "sympathy, attention or "I'm so sorry" or any kind of comments regarding feeling sorry for myself, I just truly understand that we ALL have been & are still going through life's journey that isn't always perfect & to me it's refreshing to know we are not alone! Why is it we can all write happy love stuff but are afraid to write the darker side when we all know it's in us all!



I must warn my readers that my poems aren't your typical love/happy poems! Depending on my train of thinking & what is going on in my head is how my poems will come out! I am learning new techniques & embrace any kinda of review! I say "BRING IT" As you will see during our journey of poetic friendship I have many sides to me! It's up to you whether to accept it or not!

"No escaping when I start, once I'm in I own your heart! Close your eyes, not your mind, let me into your soul 'til your totally blown!"

Run your fingers through my soul! For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel, believe what I believe, perceive as I perceive, look, experience, examine, and just for once; just once, UNDERSTAND!!!!

I could choose to be purely good, but I will not! I could choose to be purely evil, but I will not! I will be neutral! In that way I am free to be what suits me best, and no one can predict my actions!