Glory is Her Name

Written By DaVoice

The glory came when she learned that goodbye is sweeter than hello!

She embraced “it”for the last time....

it being everything that glamorized what her life was supposed to look like in order for others to be approving. Afraid to color outside the lines for fear of the friends and family she’d be losing. She held on just as hard as she could let go of it...releasing over and over until she felt free of it.

Free from dictated decisions that were never hers for the choosing...she swallowed her pride and choked on her dreams...seeking to be understood while waiting to exhale...accepting more bullshit than her ugly truths could tell.

She be the writing on the wall stitched from the finger of God...she bruised not broken so she’s tattooed...peace be the fruit that grew from her roots of pain ...woman is what you call her, but Glory is her name! Glory!

She was sheltered instead of educated on the realities of adulting...she feeling the weight of insecurities and searching for her own voice...crucified by relationships that never served her soul...she lacking the confidence to walk away and still feel whole.

Unsettling to know that she questioned her own worth...confidence was not always her friend- confusion was first. And shame whispered “your mistakes will follow you and not everyone is forgiving”...she struggled to find the balance of hula hooping in the sun while dancing in the rain...as though she had a reason to dance at all...and she did once resilience called her name

Glory!!! She be the writing on the wall stitched from the finger of God...she bruised not broken so she’s tattooed...peace be the fruit that grew from her roots of pain ...woman is what you call her, but Glory is her name! Glory!

DaVoice

Ms. Katurah Mariessa` Hughes  a*k*a “DaVoice” was born April 23, 1987 in Fairfield, California.  The youngest of 3 children and the only daughter, she expressed many talents of singing, acting, and writing at an early age. Her parents supported her by providing piano lessons and allowing her to attend Power APAC Music courses to further mature her talents. In high school, she performed in musicals, choir competitions and solos in talent shows. Her first love was singing until one of her teachers took an interest in her writing and helped to establish her voice in another way: poetry.  During her Eleventh-grade year, she first performed an original poem (“Black Therapy”) for the Black History program at age 16 and recited it flawlessly with passion. Her peers nicknamed her “the talented Kat” and her teachers prepared a path for literary pieces to overflow at every opportunity such as the school newspaper, programs, community events, etc.

While attending college at Jackson State University she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in History.  Katurah continued to explore her talents by joining the arts groups on campus such as M.A.D.D.R.A.M.A. Scene45 and the Outspoken Poetry Club. She later became the founder and president of the Jackson State University Shakespeare Club from 2010 to 2012. While there, she participated in several poetry events both on and off campus, the “birthplace” of her poetry name happened at a popular open mic spot called Cultural Expressions also known as SeVens or “The Graffiti Building on Milsaps Avenue”.  She was nervous, so she asked the MC to cut the lights and she performed in the dark. Her original poem (“Tell Me How to Live & Show Me How to Love”) was a powerful delivery. It was at that moment she was given her pen name “DaVoice” 

 As a professional, she received her master’s degree in teaching Secondary Education in 2014 from Brandeis University in Boston. Katurah has served as a teacher in both private and public-school districts. She holds active memberships with professional and social organizations such as Teacher’s First, National Education Association, International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of English and Social Studies, Association for Middle Level Education, Queens Emerging,  Power Poets and became a traveling sister of The Order of Eastern Star since 2010. Her hobbies include songwriting, puppetry, arts n crafts, scrapbooking, tasting new cuisines, photography, traveling and journaling. Katurah has become well received in her community. On Jan. 2, 2020, Katurah opened a new inspirational poetry spot called The Word Well which serves as another platform for artists to share. She also performed an original piece “I Question America” as one of the featured poets at the MLK: Night of Culture event at the Two Mississippi Museums on Jan. 20, 2020

She looks forward to public speaking events and book signing/ performance opportunities. For more information or booking, please contact 601-812-7846 or email katurah.davoice.hughes@gmail.com

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Not Your Queen