Steppin’ Out Stronger (2025)
New Era, New Journey.
After my third writing project BURNIN’ FLAME (2023) we move onto the next project: Steppin’ Out Stronger. This project follows straight on from where BURNIN’ FLAME ended.
On this project, I take everything I’ve learned so far on this creative journey and apply it here. Expect some cool wordplay, fiery rhymes, a bunch of language devices and more.
You’ll see me feeling more powerful than ever on this, feeling good in my skin (but it wasn't always like that so I explore that), being more gentle with my self
but also opening up about a few things I've been through (that I’m ready to talk about) and a lot more.
This project is powerful, deep, joyful, sexy, fun, uplifting and more.
​
Official Pieces so far:
•Only Human
•LIVIN’ IT UP
•FLAVOUR
​
Promotional Pieces so far:
•Body Talks (with Jack Norman)
•It’s Okay To Cry
What’s going to happen while I’m Steppin’ Out Stronger? Find out below.
Glowing Runway
Light spills from the windows,
Opening to a bright new day
​
As I start this journey
Calming wind
Whispers a sweet tune
While the sunlight kisses my skin
​
Sounds and wanders
Fill the air all around,
​
I'm ready to start this new chapter
I'm feeling joyful and relaxed
I’ve had such a good rest
Feeling grateful and blessed
​
The pages are now turned,
Happiness blooms, with every stride,
I've found my might,
And a burning flame,
That gleams so bright.
Within my heart,
It shimmers with glee,
On the horizon,
A radiant spark levitates,
With every step,
I
Feel that breeze
As
I claim my ground,
Each step a ripple,
While I’m
Celebrating triumphs, all around.
A pulse of joy radiates,
The world blurs behind me
The music wraps around my skin;
Silk and sunbeams interlace,
My body sways
To the rhythm
My route unwinds,
Beneath blue skies,
A journey of hope and dreams
So here I am, in my glowing light,
Dancing down my runway,
Feeling just right
​​
But suddenly……..
Trekkin' Through The Darkness
(ft. Stevie Ferland)
A gloomy
Darkness takes over the sky
Like ink-greeting water
As the freezing winds
Seeps into my bones
Facing so much pushback
But, I’m standing strong through
The pain
As I continue journeying on
The air carries whispers of negativity
That tries to cut through
My skin
Like a sharp blade,
Trying to extinguish my flame
I gasp as the darkness
Covers my path
And all I hear is silence
Fear and nervousness
Creeps over my shoulder,
As I’m not sure
Which way to go
It begins staring at me
So intensely and
Starts to shriek a great howl
Every time becoming bolder
Reverberating right
Through my body
As it sweeps me under
With a tide of panic
Feeling like
I’m in a whirlpool
Around and around I go
I was feeling worn out
Tears fell from tired eyes
That didn't know where to go,
Drop by drop,
Little by little at first
Each gust has taken more
Than I could keep,
Tugging me to the ground
I cling to the flicker of
Positivity and hope
That still lives within me
I
Get up so slowly
And
I keep trudging on.
Up then down,
Onto these fields,
Those hilly fields.
Showers of rain,
Winter/Spring
Conditioning?
Open, swerved, swaying, curved...
Would I go back?
Would I ever.
Time resolves
As shades of black,
Dark or grey,
Perhaps.
Spacey cobwebs,
All lax.
Brushed away,
Cleared,
Trekked for days,
Years, months - a haze.
This blurred malaise,
Would soon allay...
Paths could clear.
Strokes of luck appear.
Down then up,
The light, my dear.
​
MANNY & Stevie Ferland
Shadows of Hurtful Words
As I walked out into the light
People saw my skin and body
And judged it so fast,
Without letting me say one word
​
They said
My skin is not beautiful,
My frame too thin,
No one
Will like you
If you look like that
​
They just kept repeating this as
They laughed and pointed
While I felt hurt,
Embarrassed and haunted
​
It made me hide myself away
Afraid to wear certain clothes,
Terrified to be seen,
Feeling less than and not worthy
I start to lose my grip on life
As I grab anything on the shelf
That looked amazing on the rack
But never was truly me
It doesn't fit me
When I say it doesn’t fit
It doesn't fit
It never fits
This isn't me
I wouldn't wear this
​
Will I ever fit?
Ever fit?
​
My voice becomes a distant echo,
A fading pace,
No hands to grasp, no ears to share
I'm feeling lost and alone
In the shadows of hurtful words
They continued
Calling me so many names
A horrible body
Just made of bones
And nothing else to me
A skin
That is not attractive
Let me just disappear
Under long sleeves,
Under covers
Let me vanish in between loose folds,
Let me hide every inch of skin,
As I didn’t want them to say anything
But they
Threw me to the side anyway
When I tried to be myself
​​​
You haven’t even asked
How I am doing
Something that is so simple
Instead of just hurling insults at me
​
It's like people seem to think
Their words have no impact,
Their messages, comments
And what they say is just a joke
In my mind, I think
I want you to see that
There is more to me
There is more to me
I want you to know
That
I am the ache in my own chest,
The breath I take between words,
The voice that breaks sometimes,
When I’m feeling nervous
But still speaks so boldly
I just stood there silent, though
I’m not one for
Confrontation or a
Commotion
​​
So I sat on a
Roller coaster of my emotions
A boatload of insecurities
About my skin and body for years
So before you decide to
Be mean to someone
Please just take a moment,
To think about
What you're going to say first
Before you speak
Because you never know
What someone is going through
I’m
I’m…….
​
Only Human
I’m human
Just like you
I’m human.
I sit here on the spot thinking
While a
River of tears builds up in my eyes
Feeling nervous and uneasy
I try to speak, but
The words just
Don't come out right
I decided to take a step back
As
Time drifts on so fast
My heart begins to pound rapidly
Like raindrops tapping
Away on a window
Gradually increasing in
Volume each time
As the noise levitates and
Continues to take charge
Hearing what people had to say
My confidence began
Wearing and tearing, away
As the world around
Me started to wobble and sway
From deep inside my mind
My thoughts, gather so fast
Circulating around till
All I could see was thick fog
​
My emotions rush about the place
Like a relay race,
As fear and confusion
Grow so quickly in pace.
I’m human
Just like you
I’m human.
What is this space
That I’m in
I can barely make out
Where I am
I start running, but stumble
I choke on my own breath
Echoes of memories
That are too piercing
Overpowering all other sounds
​
Everything is super loud
Too much is happening at once
​
I can't move
Can I move?
I can’t do this
Can I do this?
​
Maybe I should just stay where I am
Or should I try and get back up?
Feeling like
I don't know what to do next
Just waiting for something
Anything to happen.
​
I
Take a pause,
Close my eyes,
Take a moment to breathe
As this is happening
Something inside me soothes
The sharp ringing turns
To a faint and peaceful whisper
I stand up, feeling stronger
And get myself together
​
On days like these,
When I’m not doing too good
I look within and
Just be still
I have cried, failed,
Made mistakes & fallen so many times
But, it’s okay
As we’re human
And we learn a lot from it.
​
I realise that
Some roads
Can be louder, darker and more difficult
Than others,
Some corners carries challenges
That are waiting for us
And our direction
Can be knocked off course
Making life, not an easy path.
​
I’ve chosen to step forward and
Face the wind, head-on now
Even though I may fall and fail
I know I can get up and try again
I’m human
Just like you
I’m only human.
Body Talks
(with Jack Norman)
Your body;
The blank canvas it once was.
From stretch marks to muffin tops
Tattoos to piercings
Everything is so beautiful.
​
Sometimes you’re happy with it
But
Sometimes you’re not.
One thing is though,
This is your body
Your body for life
You can modify it, work on it
But the most important thing,
Is loving it
Easy for some, but not for others.
Your body is a work of art
And will take you to the grave
So
Enjoy that cake,
Get that tattoo and
Please don’t worry
​
Your body is
YOUR canvas
​
Painted with different
Colours
As it showcases how powerful it is.
Acknowledging the brain
Above our lips
Travelling right
Down to our hips.
These bodies have done us
Nothing but good
Feeling sad
For every time
We compare them to
Another,
But still, they wrap their arms
Around us gently
When everything else
In life feels distant.
Oh, body
You're so special
All those wonderful things
You can do
It’s magical to see
I want to
Fill you with decorations
Of kindness and peace
Letting in a bright and glowing light
That I’ll let shine out
Your body is your home so
Let’s
Treat it with love and respect.
MANNY & Jack Norman
Reflection
In 2020,
I was the
Beauty Within The Cracks
Not feeling great about myself,
Not feeling strong for so long
I kept questioning what beauty was
Is it true
What people were saying about me?
In person and online
Being bullied through a dark time
I was exhausted,
I wasn't sure what to do
Mirrors huddled all around,
I began trying to
Sprint away from them
I felt like a painting
That didn’t want to
Be exhibited for people to see
I was stuck at a
Freezing crossroad
Not knowing
Who I was
I just
Strolled around the place
With no sense of direction
I began
Questioning over and over
Should I
Hide my sexuality?
Once afraid of
What people would think of me
Feeling like I was letting people down
I felt suffocated
I felt like I couldn't be myself
Maybe I won’t get
Back on stage again
I was so anxious
Cracks began to appear around me
Falling right through
Without anything to hold on to
And I
Felt like I was just falling and falling
To an unknown place.
Next chapter
In 2021
I discovered that
One of my superpowers
Is art and creativity in
ART IS MY SUPERPOWER
Which was amazing, but
I still kept asking myself
Should I keep creating?
Or just let it go?
It left me so confused
I started
Swimming between the gaps of life
While
Emotions began pouring out
I always felt like I was drowning,
Drowning in these
Thoughts
Strong currents,
Howling winds,
Mighty waves
Biting into my face,
Yet ever so refreshing,
But so cold.
That was it
I grew tired of hiding
And running
And hiding
And more running
The cycle stopped
I finally found the
Courage to put myself out there again.
Next chapter
I continued on onto
The blazing adventure
In 2023 I discovered my
BURNIN’ FLAME
I journeyed through
The fire to come
Out the other side.
The freezing wind
Decided to make an
Appearance and
Tried to blow my fire out
I stood my ground through it
And started to believe in myself more
Even though a lot of
People didn't believe in me
So many battles fought
So much doubt built up inside me
An abundance
Of questions were raised
But, was never answered
I moved on from that
The strength I needed,
The support I was given
Has got me to where I am today
Onto the next chapter
Chapter four
I am now
Steppin’ Out Stronger.
Steppin' Out Stronger
With eyes wide open,
I face the day,
A newfound strength
Within me finds its way
No longer feeling less than,
Or being afraid to express myself
​
I take a bold step forward,
And with a newfound feeling,
Power courses
Through every part of me,
As I stride with purpose,
Beating at my heart​
I’m steppin’ out
With confidence,
I’m walkin’
With my head held high,
The winds of change sweep
Through, as I pass by
In the kitchen, I’m crafting,
Every dish a delight,
Cookin’ up a storm
Lettin’ my dreams take flight
Preparin’ delicious dreams,
Like a chef,
Seasonin’ up the air
Every dish an adventure
Every spice got a tale,
Joy on my palate,
Hope in my inhale.
I trust in my tools,
These hands can create,
With passion and love,
I’m controlling my fate​
​
As
Life's flavours savour
Everywhere
Hope's warm touch ignites,
Banishing the darkest night
​
With that sunshine glow,
I’m blazin’ so bright,
People throwin’ shade,
But, I rise above it
I’m shinin’ like a star,
Call me cinematic
​​
I’m steppin’ out
And
Leapin’ up high
Like a Yoshi jump,
Soarin’ through the chaos,
Like Tails,
I am strong and steady,
Like Knuckles
I'm here to make waves.
In this lyrical dojo,
I’m the wordplay samurai,
Slicin’ through the noise,
While breakin’ down walls
Watch me elevate and glide
​
With beautiful wings to fly,
With a hope to dream,
​
Ready…Set…Go​
I’m steppin’ out
Steppin’ out stronger!
MELANINAIRE
(ft. Tarlia)
MANNY:
My skin is strong
Hurt and belittled for a long time
Now it is my powerful armour
It glows and
Supports me along the whole way.
It sings to me with its
Rhythmic tune of beauty.
My skin cuddles me
Like a soft blanket,
As
It reminds me who I am
I push myself along,
Down my runway
Despite the
Unwanted noise
And unfair systems,
​
I still see clear skies
While spreading love
And thriving
Time to
Be The Change.
Tarlia:
I track back over time & see how they subtracted my ancestors pride...
their peace inside..
Took a piece of their mind
removed that zeal & zest, the power snubbed from the West
what they thought was best.
Took our power,
our voice & just burnt the rest
crushed a delicate flower,
dehydrated & left
our faint imprint on society,
a skeletal press
experimented,
harnessed & lifted the
potent fragrance within us.
you speak just like me now,
since they harvested our culture
but you’d see I’m black
but wouldn’t come close to
I stand firm in my colours,
I’m proud of what I’ve got...
Jamaica...Panama.
Southern greatness, big up
what I do today onwards,
is reclaim what they all hated.
To encourage the discouraged
to dream rather than to fight,
my melanated beauties,
pick up your pen & write.
MANNY:
I’m black and feeling so proud
My skin is my logo
And I’m letting it shine out.
Yes I can achieve
I’m steppin’ out and
There’s
No time to leave
Wearing my crown proudly
Time for me to
Let my light glimmer
Around town.
To uplift people rather
Than pull them down.
The colour of my skin
Lives today safely from intimidation
Though people might be horrible,
It believes that better days are ahead.
Melanin
Glam up,
Glow up
Time for the level-up.
Love your beautiful melanin skin
Let it sparkle and
Glisten in the golden sun
I stand firm in my colours
As I feel so proud of what I got
England,
Trinidad & Tobago,
Barbados and Dominica
British Caribbean Badass.
My skin roared with elegance
Reminding you that
It’s not terrified anymore.
​
MANNY & Tarlia
LIVIN' IT UP
I'm livin' it up
Livin' it up
​
Livin' my best life
I'm livin'
Livin' my best life
​
Livin' it up
And don't give it up
​
Livin' our best life
We're livin'
Livin' our best life
​
I’m feelin’ fierce
As I enter
Standin’ tall
In the centre
Celebratin’
Down my lane
Kartin’ around like Mario
On Rainbow Road
Findin’ power-ups,
Dodgin’ obstacles with ease
The warm sunshine guides my
Path to success and peace
Mistakes, I owned ‘em
Haters, I’ve outgrown them
​
There's a whole lot in me
As you can see
Spread out my wings
Yeah,
I’m feelin’ so free
My creative mind,
A canvas so wide
Paintin’ masterpieces,
As my story unfolds,
Time to shine,
To let my talents be known,
While I’m livin’ life,
At its highest tone
Tropical breeze
As I bop through,
Yeah, this feels so cool.
I’m on fire baby,
Yeah, you can call me ignite
Been through some down days
Now you’ll
See my might
While
I’m
Livin’ it up
Livin’ it up
Livin’ my best life
I’m livin’
Livin’ my best life
Livin’ it up
And don't give it up,
Livin’ our best life
We’re livin’
Livin’ our best life.
It’s M to the Y
And
I’m bringing the flames
Now people are knowin’ my Name
My face card is makin’
You feel some sort of way
You can just soak this all up
While I’m levellin’ up
And in my zone
Bad energy please
Leave me alone
I’m like darts in the dark
Flowin’ at fast speed
Like Sonic
People can’t see the strike
Good energy and good vibes
That’s what I like
I’m chasin’ my goals
With determination indeed,
Stackin’ wins like Tetris,
While
I’m collectin’ my golden rings
I’m enjoying
This special wave
And keepin’ it real
No need to pretend
The spice the floor man
Yeah
I’m back again while
I push my pen
Time for you to give
People their tens
Time for me to show you
What I can do
And speak my truth
Bars so fire,
They’re lightin’ up the booth
Find me, catchin’ the vibes,
Flippin’ the script
While I’m on my
Nintendo Switch
Joy-con in my grip
I’m on that grind,
Seekin’ out Pokémon,
Gotta catch ‘em all
It’s time
​
While
I’m
Livin’ it up
Livin’ it up
Livin’ my best life
I’m livin’
Livin’ my best life
Livin’ it up
And don't give it up,
Livin’ our best life
We’re livin’
Livin’ our best life.
If people want to
Bring you bad vibes
Tell them bye, bye
Tell them bye, bye
Even though they might be
Cute, handsome,
Beautiful and so sexy
Still
Tell them bye, bye
Tell them bye, bye
If they want to
Gas up your space
Well
That is a waste of our time
Tell them bye, bye
Tell them bye, bye
Bye,
Bye,
Bye
While
I’m
Livin’ it up
Livin’ it up
Livin’ my best life
I’m livin’
Livin’ my best life
Livin’ it up
And don't give it up,
Livin’ our best life
We’re livin’
Livin’ our best life.
Paradise
(ft. Thomas)
The sunshine
Gleams so bright
Beaming with happiness
As the rays glisten up
The place for us
​
Let’s dance together
In this celestial ballet,
Connecting like ​flowers
Spinning in the wind
In this moment here forever,
Where it all begins
​
Our eyes are locked
While
Time pauses
​
Silence takes over
But our heartbeats sing loud,
​
No words needed
When the vibes speak true
This is a sacred space
I share with you​
​
Standing together,
Hand in hand
This is our precious paradise.
​
When you hold me in your arms
light cascading across our faces
dust dancing like fairies in a spotlight.
My world is yours,
we live life through rose tinted glasses
forever holding our hearts
and saying our names.
Breathing with love at the
thought of your hand resting on my chest.
Through groggy good mornings
we all crave to hear.
At the touch of our lips
this paradise is all ours.
​
MANNY & Thomas
FLAVOUR
My island whine
Caught your eye
And you replied
Let’s produce our own
Beautiful visual of poetry tonight
As clothes come off
And glide to the floor,
Our bodies are now
Pressed together
And a conversation begins,
The world melts away
As we
Weave between the stars,
Designing landscapes
That is ours to share
Igniting the fire
When your
Fingertips meet my skin;
A current surge skates
Between us
Electricity sparks around
In the dim light
While we’re
Soaring in the smooth air
I’m likin’ your flavour
That beautiful
And warm energy
You give off
I can't get enough of this
You have your own type of
Flavour
That I’ve not tried before
And I want to find out more,
As I explore
With every kiss, a song starts,
Feeling like they’re art,
Brush my lips, it's divine,
Verses leaping out of us
With our hearts,
Each stanza echoes deep
Each syllable
Simmers seamlessly;
We lose ourselves
In metaphors and similes
From the late nights to
The sunrise mornings
I’ll be serving up
That flavour for you
Sizzling spice
Or vanilla cool breeze?
What about
Pineapple poppin’,
Raspberry shockin'?
Or maybe coconut chillin’,
Tropical rockin’?
Sprinkle in a little
Mango magic mixed
With caramel dreams,
Like ocean waves
Flowing in moonbeam streams
​
Take a ride on this vibe
Let’s be each others guide
Through life's tide,
And all the highs
And lows combined
​
There’s a flame that’s
Burning deep inside,
Watch both of
Our flavours collide,
Like fireworks in the sky,
​
A sweet scent lingered,
A fragrance so rare
You have my taste buds
Dancin’ and going wild
I’m lost in your rhythm,
Caught up in the breeze
While the bass line hits
​
But, let’s not talk too much, for now
Let our feelings shout loud
We’re painting colours rich enough
To make this room proud.
One Late Night
Everything was going well,
Life on a high,
Then one late night,
The clouds rolled by and
The rain came down in sudden bursts
​
I sat and stared at the bending light
From my window
I was now on my own
After the relationship broke down
To fast
Not lasting long enough;
It was just another goodbye
As tears were pouring out
​
The jobs weren't working out
Frustration grew tall,
Trying so hard
But always taking the fall​
I began
Applying for job after job
Feeling lost in this maze,
Not getting much responses
Am I not good enough?
Feeling like a failure
No answers came back,
As I searched and searched
Handing out CVs
But not hearing back
Am I not worthy?
​
Thought I’d
Have it all figured out by now;
But
Life threw its curveballs and
I couldn't catch it
It’s got me spinning
Like a game of basketball
​
I shattered like a blade of ice,
In a thousand shards of pain,
As the walls closed in tight
I can't breathe
I can't seem to grasp it,
Grasp life
Get anything right at the moment
I’m just trying to get through the day,
But there are
So many choices to be made
Being an adult is so easy
Yeah, so easy
Did I forget that thing?
What thing?
That thing?
You know what I mean
Maybe you don't
I’m sure it'll come to me later
Let me get
Back on track
Life is slipping past me too fast,
It’s getting tougher out there
I’m trying to break free,
But it’s all too heavy
Choices weighing me down,
I didn't look
Over my shoulder in time
I wasn't ready for all of this at once
Like damn
It’s too much
​
Wind trembles under my wings
I command where
I want to be taken
But my wings
Weren't working properly ​​
​
I lay with my head
In my hands
The silence pierces my heart
Numbness is growing all around me
I can feel the boiling tears in my eyes
While my throat is dry
I didn't see the cracks that underlies,
I didn't read the writing on the wall,
Almost like
I was covered in a cloud of smoke.
​
But
As the raindrops fade,
And the night fades away,
​
Life can still be a lot sometimes,
But today
Is a brand new day
​
I decide to go
On a walk and get some fresh air.
Beneath The
Surface of Silence
I've been walking so long,
Ever so slowly
Feeling like I’m floating in the air
I look at the crumbling sky above
I stare at the clouds
That are drifting away
I gaze at the sun, slowly dimming
Oh, this is great
After the night I just had
What is happening?
Inside my head
My thoughts
Echoes so loudly again
Wondering what I am going
To do with my life now
Everything is so jumbled and crazy
Thoughts gliding in and out
Thoughts drifting all about
Sometimes
I feel so overwhelmed with life
So many
Different feelings and emotions
Flying around at once
So much bad news a lot of the time
Where silence drowns the truth,
Where those who dare to question
Are cast aside.
​
The world grows dark
It creeps around; lurking
Until I walk to close
Striking rapidly
Slicing the air as it moves
And all I want to do is
Step backwards and close in.
Memories flash around that feel
As if they occurred
Yesterday
Then turns to flashes of
Moments that seem to fade away.
​
I’ve been doing so well
Come so far
But lately, it’s a real struggle,
It’s all a scrambled mess,
I know what it’s like to
Wake up in the morning,
Sometimes feeling that
Heavy weight upon the chest.
It’s the weight of not being enough,
Despite always trying your best.
I put pen to paper
About how I’m feeling
Words twisting
And turning around in my brain,
Thoughts going in and out
Thoughts are swimming all about
The more I try to do enough,
The more the weight pushes down
And I think
How much more
Would you want me to do?
Which would be seen
As enough for you?
It hit me again that
Sometimes I
Feel like I’m not enough,
I show up, I do the work
I work hard
But not seeing much from it
As I cry out,
Am I enough?
The pen trembles in my hand,
Grazing lines,
In a hesitant and quiet tone
I collapse into the mess,
The clutter that has been made,
Around me
Makes me sink
Beneath the surface of silence.
In the stillness, so much noise gathers
I see the pieces of my soul
Scattered as I float around
I listen to the sounds
That silence makes
I count the seconds in between,
An uneasy gut feeling bubbles up
My heart sank down to my stomach,
The shadows of
Doubt wraps around me
They mock every attempt I make,
As they pull me
To the ground
And I can't get back up.
I ask myself while lying on the ground
Will I ever be enough?
More Than Enough
Now that I’ve been
Here in this spot for a while,
I rest and then get up
Take some time to heal
​
It’s now time to be moving along
I’ve fallen a few times
And got back up before
So I’m going to do that again
I stand in the spot light and
Look back at everything
I’ve been through so far in life and
Ask myself one more time
Am I enough?
I
I am
I am
I…….. am………. enough.
​
That took a lot for me to say
But I am enough, I do enough.
I need to believe it,
I need to know it.
Now, I stand before you today,
With bright colours in my heart,
I needed time to accept myself,
Not walking that straight line,
That people wanted from me.
I am enough,
I hear the words clearly,
Now more than ever before,
Enough for myself, simply enough
I’m starting to find love
In myself again
I now like parts of what
I see in the mirror
After avoiding it for so long
Here is strength wrapped in softness;
Here is resilience born from whispers;
For after every storm comes sunlight
Breaking through clouds
I am more than what
They see
When they used to
Point and judge
Every tear I cried, crafted my art,
Every joyful
Laugh drew me to the start.
I remember nights
Dreaming underneath stars,
Thinking about the
Future on the canvas of scars.
Thinking I can do this one day
Today is that day
So let us dance with kindness,
And let go of fear,
Embracing our imperfections,
Year by year.
For in our uniqueness,
Lies strength, beauty, and might,
We are enough,
Radiating brilliantly in our sunshine.
I’m now embracing being different,
After feeling like someone
who didn't deserves this
Deserve
Happiness
Deserve
Good things
In tiny victories,
Moments that mean so much
I am passionate on-purpose,
To do good, be good,
Help others out, see people win
Imperfect in the same exact way,
Deserving of the same love today,
There were days now
I remembered
To put my heart on my sleeve again,
After being hurt a few times
I also needed to
Find more love in myself as well
Being raw with someone
Is scary
But at the same time,
It sounds beautiful.
To be able to find people
Who you can be vulnerable
With and
Who makes you feel comfortable
So let’s be kinder to ourselves,
I’m trying my best to remember that
Even though
I know there will be days,
When I still don’t feel good enough,
I’m more than enough,
You’re more than enough,
We’re enough forever
And always.
It’s Okay to Cry
It's okay to cry
When you're going
Through a lot
When it gets too
Much on the inside
And the weight
Of the world is so
Heavy on our shoulders
Let it flow,
Let it all go,
Let it pour out,
Just let it flow
Tears that fall
Like gentle rain
When you’re in pain
When the heart aches,
And a river of emotions streams
Down the sides of our face
Let them dance,
So gracefully
As they hit the ground
It's okay to cry also
When you're happy,
Celebrating all those
Achievements,
You deserve good things
Yes, you deserve it
Tiny drops of water
Coming from your eyes,
As you smile,
I’m so proud of you!
Let it flow,
Let it all go,
Let it pour out,
Just let it flow
​
I’ve been told
I shouldn't share how
I’m feeling
It’ll make you look weak,
Just hide it away,
Don’t cry
You're not a real man if you do
Just stand up high,
Forget about it
You'll be just fine
Just lock it up, don’t let it show
But I say to everyone
Show them that you can,
Let go of your storm,
Embrace your
Vulnerable feelings,
There’s so much
Power and beauty in that
If eyes did not shed tears,
The soul
Would never
Notice a glistening rainbow
​
So when you feel,
Like you can’t bear,
Remember the moments,
You’re not alone there
From joy to sadness,
It’s all part of life,
Each tear tells it’s own story,
A warrior's strife.
​
Let’s lift each other up,
In this grand parade,
Breakin’ those chains,
Society’s mould,
With every drop,
Watch it shine
Like a sparkling waterfall's might
​
Let it flow,
Let it all go,
Let it pour out,
Just let it flow
​
It’s okay to cry
It’s okay to cry
Let me repeat
That again
It’s okay to cry.
PRIDE
Pride is about unity
Lifting each other up,
When we’re feeling down
Including everyone
Celebrating,
Laughing and crying together
Standing stronger as one
It is
Showcasing
How unique and special we are
Letting each other shine,
Instead of being horrible
To each other as
We’re in the same community
We should be connecting,
Instead of breaking apart
We feel
Pain, hurt and sadness
When someone from the
Community is taken too soon.
Yes
Too many people
Have been taken too soon
We’re losing spaces
People feel like
They can’t be themselves in places
It’s the power,
Flame and determination
We have inside
To make a change.
​
It’s our continued fight to be seen as
Equal and important
As we’re human just like you
Yes,
We’re human just like you
Don't forget that
It’s about being hopeful,
Hoping that we continue
To overcome the barriers
That’s thrown our way,
Trying to not include us
Trying to keep us silent
Hoping that one day,
Our lives as LGBTQIA+
People will be seen for how
Wonderful, incredible
And talented we are
As
There's
So much talent in our community.
It’s diverse and inclusive
It’s so lovely to see,
But more work needs to be done
As visibility is so important
Pride is expressing ourselves
It is strutting down our runway,
Feeling fierce,
Fabulous and so fine in clothes
That makes us feel comfortable.
It’s freedom to just be
Able to live freely
Just as we
Because who we are is
Truly amazing
It is honouring,
Respecting and appreciating
What has been done already
But
Knowing that a lot of
Work still needs to be done.
TAKIN' OVER
(with Kevin & Hinny)
MANNY:
When I step out on my runway
The whole place lights up
Like a blaze
Don’t forget
I only want the true ones in my lane
One life to live
So let's live it up
If people want to
Be negative
I’ll let them, while I create
Time for me to showcase
My art like Tate
If you’re here to start trouble
Better take that mess out,
While I sip my drink,
Hold my cup up high,
Watch me whine my waist, no doubt
Time to dance
Through the noise,
Putting my all into each move,
With that confident grace
While I’m
Bringin’ the sauce
Seasonin’ the place
Marvel at my journey,
Let's unite like the Avengers,
​
As we step towards the light
I begin
Vogueing my dreams into reality.
Hinny:
The time to dance is now
it ain’t cool or know-how
all is flow it's easy
trust it take a chance
sport boxers or in ya chenies
commando streak on fleet street
solitaire or with the scenies
vogue comme des garçons
be class clowns let ya hair down.
Fight the crazies
stand still through putdowns
still ideal no shamies
cheeks a-glow puff proud
free from the shadies
jump up get stripes shine ya crown.
They listen do they hear?
pump your sound
like Joan me, myself and I
ya sound music's the friend we’ve found.
MANNY:
I’m ready to move with the beat
Bringin’ the energy
And the burnin’ heat
Another person down on the ground,
That needs to stop
Why can't we
Just come together as one
And enjoy the bops.
Let’s make a toast
Champagne slay stylin’ it
No time to quit
My creative work is important to me
I have a lot in my tool kit,
​
The bass is bumpin’ on
The floor
Causing a fun uproar
Cold vibes,
Yeah,
I have to ignore
While I close the door
Feelin’ fresh, restored,
Now watch me strut my stuff,
Rhymes slappin’ back-to-back,
Yeah, they’re on fire,
Burnin' the wire, tryin’ to stop me,
Spinnin’ 'round like a tyre
Just watch me aspire
Battlin’ through like
I’m on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,
Workin’ together with my crew,
In Animal Crossing,
I’m buildin’ up
Dreams like a breakthrough
From the block to the top,
My ambition never stalls,
Takin' over the scene
With a vision so clear,
Ain’t no stoppin' this movement,
We’re ownin’ every sphere here
Let’s celebrate this win,
With levitation,
I dance my fears away
Feel the electricity
Crackle through my veins
It ignites my bones
And opens my mind.
Kevin:
I’m a storm
beautiful in chaos
feeling strong
heels high,
strutting my stuff.
Snatching wigs
I’m doing what
needs to be done.
I would show them that,
the world isn't in black and white,
it's in full, high-definition colour.
I can create fire,
bringing flames to my name.
I can create rain,
dancing away and feeling free.
I can create lighting,
as I shock people with my abilities.
Such confidence I feel,
to stand up and be myself.
I’ll be swerving on the negativity
That comes my way
To be you
to be different
because in this chapter,
we all rule the world.
​
MANNY, Kevin & Hinny
Reachin' Higher Ground
What an adventure it’s been,
I keep strolling on
This feeling I have
Inside feels different this time
My tears have fallen
On the grounds so many times
Every defeat that I’ve come across
Every win however small it was
I’ve made my way
Through narrow, chilly alleys
I kept moving even
When I felt like
I was sinking in quicksand
I went around potholes this time
While continuing to trust
And listen to my gut and heart.
I'm feeling so proud,
Of where I was and
Where it has brought me,
I feel elated and so proud,
Creative work speaks out so loud,
​
You said I'm weird,
I’ll never be beautiful and
You called me so many names
But
I'm proud of myself
For continuing to create
Through the negativity and noise
I'm content that I'm a creative person
I now see more beauty in myself
I’ve accepted myself now
In so many ways
Even though I’m not
Who most people
Wanted me to be
I had to choose me
I’m going to say that again
I had to choose me
I'm happy with all
My achievements so far
To be able to smile now
And say yes I did that
How I can stare up at the sky
And be both
Blanketed with a feeling of home
And lifted out of myself
How my taste bud
Have suddenly
Decided to change
How inspiration can be
So bottomless,
It can come from
Anywhere and mean anything.
Still, others may comment on
Something and say they
See nothing or
Interpret in a different way
And that’s okay
It all depends on your perspective,
Yet, still I will say,
Inspiration runs through all things,
Sprinkled into the fabric of the world
My life's book has been good
Not each chapters have been perfect
And that’s alright
I’ve stood in the shadows,
Weathered so many seasons
But each one
Has been a part of my life
Part of my journey
So I climb to the top of the mountain,
At dawn, with my arms open wide.
The sun has woken up
From its sleep
And is so happy to see me.
I scream my relief as I
Display my
Beautiful burning bright flame
And as I begin to soar
Into the unknown blue,
My heart beats strong, my soul anew.
In reachin’ higher ground,
I find my peace,
A sense of calm, a world release,
From earthly chains
That held me tight, for so long
As I soar
Back down to the mountain,
​
Suddenly
A vortex appears, a mystery.
Glowing soft, like a whispered sigh,
It beckons me, to step inside, to try.
I smile, and
Gaze up at the blue sky above,
And ask,
Shall I enter, or turn back?
I think for a moment
As courage stirs inside,
Like a rising wave,
​
I'm ready, I declare,
Boldy with a heart full of pride.
I’m feeling much more
Braver in myself now
After the journey, I’ve been on
​
I now know I can do this
Exclaiming those words
As I decide to enter the vortex
Let's see what lies beyond,
On the other side
I am
Here.
I am
Here.
​
But,
Where is here?
