If this Poetic Interlude feels like a message or mirror, share it with someone who is looking to think about rest differently.
The Rest of Us is doing something different for Season Two. Every other week, we will feature over 30 poets in a segment we call “Poetic Interlude,” launching during National Poetry Month. In this Poetic Interlude, Anastacia-Reneé shares their poem “Stem.”
Creative expression is a portal to rest as liberation. Creatives, including poets, show us how to embrace our humanity and act on our truths. We in The Rest of Us community view this as a deep connection to one’s own agency — our definition of rest.
Settle into the work of Anastacia-Reneé and even explore your own creativity, which we define as liberatory rest.
Poem: “Stem”
inside the flower
i find peace
& splice up the petals
for no one
if a plant is my new
god then i get
dirty for her say yes
get the soul of
her soil crunched
under the moons
of my nails
& i will worship say yes
the plant as a mark
of my commitment
to growing. of letting
myself receive sun
& water
& sweet nothings
whispered
at the root of my tired
grow.
Reflection
The short loving commandment “say yes” is right justified in my poem. What will you “say yes” to moving forward with your quest for more rest, pleasure, or creating positive memories?
About the Poet
Anastacia-Reneé is a queer writer, educator, interdisciplinary artist, playwright, TEDX speaker, and podcaster. She is the author of (v.) (Gramma/Black Ocean), Forget It (Black Radish), Sidenotes from the Archivist (HarperCollins/Amistad), and Here in the (Middle) of Nowhere (HarperCollins/Amistad). Side Notes From The Archivist was selected as one of “NYPL Best Books of 2023” and the American Library Association’s (RUSA) “Notable Books of 2024.” Reneé, a recipient of the James W. Ray Distinguished Artist Award, was selected by NBC News as part of the list of “Queer Artist of Color Dominate 2021’s Must-See LGBTQ Art Shows,” for “(Don’t Be Absurd) Alice in Parts,” an installation at the Frye Art Museum. She served as Seattle Civic Poet (2017-1019) during Seattle’s inaugural year of UNESCO status. Her work has been anthologized and published widely.
Website: www.anastacia-renee.com/home
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Meet the Host:
Dana Tenille Weekes
Dana Tenille Weekes made the conscious decision to live in a mindset of rest as self-liberation after nearly 15 years as a lawyer-lobbyist in Washington, DC. In 2020, Dana faced the darkest period of her life, which eventually led her to resign from a top global law firm and take a year-long journey of rest in 2022.
In 2023, Dana launched Thrive Architects, a strategic advising and professional development firm building advocacy, organizational health, and well-being platforms for organizations, communities, and people to thrive.
The Rest of Us podcast is one way Dana is building community for professionals and advocates on the brink of burnout to think about rest differently. If you’re interested in embracing rest as liberation, especially after the podcast episode ends, join our community where we converse, connect, cultivate, and lean into our creativity.