Donavan LeDean and Rachel De Vera Elevate Mental Health and Cultural Identity Through Poetry

Download MP3

Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a KU NV studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Donavan LeDean 0:15
Here we go. Here we go. Move it. Move it. Move it.

Donavan LeDean 0:22
You next man up, Dave.

Donavan LeDean 0:41
Hello and welcome to the show. I'm your host. Donna Billy Dean, actor, author and inspirational rhythmic poet, you're now tuned in to next man up poetry motion, where the mission is to promote good mental health for everyone. This poetry show will motivate, educate and inspire you with spoken word, through cultural expression. We have a special guest today, Rachel davera The Filipina, American artist, poet and San Jose, California native who now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. She currently works at UNLV, promoting steam careers, passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She strives to amplify her underrepresented voice and experience through her writing, she is an award winning and congressionally recognized poet. She has been published in the Las Vegas Philippine times and the Merced River Literary Review. Rachel queen, thank you for being here.

Rachel De Vera 1:41
Thank you so much for having me. It's such, so, such an exciting moment. Yes, indeed.

Donavan LeDean 1:45
So I've had an opportunity to meet with you in a mental health writing workshop hosted by the renowned writer akemiah deadweidler. Phenomenal experience. We got a chance to share some laughs as well as some tears. But I had the pleasure of listening to your story through your writing, and I'm impacted, you know. So I've gotten a chance to see as far as really experience as far as your your knowledge, your your passion for people, and your your purpose. So first and foremost, what inspired you to become a poet?

Rachel De Vera 2:38
I can go all the way back to eighth grade to Mrs. Jones class, where, I remember, I was looking at poetry, and she was teaching about it, and I was like, oh, that's kind of cool. Let me give it a go and try. And I got a good grade on that poem. And the rest is history. I've really enjoyed my time. I originally went to the University of California, Merced, I was one of the first students that went there, and I really enjoyed the writing program. I actually graduated with psychology was my bachelor's degree, but I had a minor in creative writing. And really, if I look back on that time, my favorite parts of class were in my creative writing spaces, poetry, fiction writing. I met a person, fell in love, moved to Las Vegas, didn't work out, but during that toxic relationship, I put my pen down. So that kind of said a lot about you know, how that relationship was affecting me. Finally, I left that relationship about three years ago, picked up the pen and started getting involved in essentially, I'm flourishing in the Las Vegas poetry community and starting to spread out. Like in July, I went to Atlanta, found an open mic and made a bunch of friends there, and really enjoyed it being that space. So that's phenomenal. Yeah, just got back into it.

Donavan LeDean 4:03
There's a quote that I feel that is imperative for me to mention, considering the nature of the show regarding mental health. And quote, when the rich rob the poor, it's called business when the poor fights back, it's called violence. End quote Mark Twain. It's a lot going on under this social climate and which can diminish a person's mental health and the mental health crisis is real in the States for those who may not listen to poetry or may not understand its purpose, how significant is poetry in restoring a person's mental health considering the chaos that's occurring? Within our society.

Rachel De Vera 5:01
I think it's completely vital for poets to write, especially now, especially for mental health. We are the feelers, and we are going to tell it very transparently what's going on in the world. So when people look back and they say, Huh, those funny things happen, and those people let that happen to empower them, if they have the power to vote or to, I don't know, write a poem that can affect people to move in a certain way for the better of humanity. I think that's very important at this moment in time, the poets are the feelers, and if you do spoken word, we are the performers letting people know what's going on in the world today as a true reflection, as a true mirror of where society is, whether, yes, there's positive things to write about. But for me, I'm also a political poet. I write about the negative things too, because that's also important. But from the Mental Health scope, people often remind me there's a lot of negative things Rachel going on, but still remember to try to write about the positive things. I can hear my mother talking to me right now saying that, so I think that's something I keep in mind when I am journaling or writing. Yes, there's all these negative things, but how can I count my blessings? How can I be grateful to make sure my mindset is positive as well? Because we need ballots indeed

Donavan LeDean 6:22
before we let you go, I would like for you to share a poem for us. You ready? Absolutely queen, talk to him.

Rachel De Vera 6:33
I am a Filipina, brown sugar, skin, almond eyed sight. Voice, deep, resilient and full of fight. I am a Filipina. Vocals like Whitney and Aretha, singing knees to the ground as I hum heavenly sounds. I am a Filipina. I eat with my hands dried rice on my shirt. Don't matter, because when I flirt, I am a Filipina. Wrote two pcns, twirling candles around my palms, dancing to nickeling while keeping calm. I am a Filipina. Got a sister that's a Nourse. She survived covid, 19 at its worst. I am a Filipina watching corrupt legal crimes, my bloodline dancing on picket lines. I am a Filipina Ruby Ibarra wraps in serenades, inspiring an era of rebelling, renegades. I am a Vegas Filipina DJ Iraq. Be staying and P dot rocking these streets, their sets never flop. A Vegas Filipina follow the lights to California Hotel. If you know, you know that ox tail real well, a Vegas Filipina, making something out of nothing, making space for all human race to come together, fly, birds of a feather, humanity, in our voices and our choices are clever. I am a Filipina, American, immigrate, no hate spreading poetically, penai words, that's my fate. I am a Filipina. What are you?

Donavan LeDean 8:09
Rachel queen, thank you for your time. Thank you so

Rachel De Vera 8:13
much. Here

Donavan LeDean 8:14
we go. Here we go. Next man up. You

Speaker 3 8:27
I'm trying to find a way try to come and say, couldn't do it now breaks.

Unknown Speaker 8:49
Seven days.

Donavan LeDean 8:50
Go in with a fresh mind and a pure heart. Mistakes were made. Go in with a fresh start. The emphasis is today. The uncertainty is tomorrow. I live another day that's success. Time is borrowed. Cartages on a regular another family has seen grief. Mics were cut off still. The Tennessee three were able to speak on the crying girl and dying boy slain by assault styles too many bullets to avoid. Pray for them as they attempt to fight for a law made for all, as they attempt to prevent another body to fall. History in the making, yet in the midst of infamy, they're setting aside politics for human safety, making enemies Your vote can avoid the timbers Your vote can avoid that. Maybe it wouldn't what it got to be unprecedented as we witness the headlines of an indictment, as the rich make more money on merch poses as victims inciting another riots never quiet. The problems are not more foreigners or crowding US borders like refugees, after Roe v Wade reversed, more women are escaping rare states like refugees, more protest industries like helpers please and dire need of open minds and clear views so that one day women's universal health care making headlines on CNN News.

Donavan LeDean 10:00
And exhale, PRAY, WAIT for it. Peace never came. Now beware our man force bound to take the Republic. God bless us. As we fight for peace on earth, as mankind kills one another to gain more turf, for drugs, for crops, for money, for clout, urgent message, human to human, heart to heart, change your route for a fresh start.

Donavan LeDean 10:33
Next man up,

Acamea Deadwiler 10:36
coexisting in many realms of thought, a walk in prayer, meditation, I can't evade frequencies. I can't explain speak to me. And wisdom's name, I've been on that resonance before. They coined it, Schumann's Babylon. Can't control me. I broke out the show like I was Truman the human programmed analytics can't measure the spirit thus they can't fully study us at this point, disappearing. Know thyself, mental, physical and etheric. Lyrics, tap into your central nose. To the soul. You can feel it. Sit in the sun. Download codes. I can hear them. There's a natural mystic flowing on Mother Nature's bio rhythm. Get on beat, connect with every single living organism like ancestors before these evil ways of the system, walking the less traveled road. I and I have seen many visions, many nights, sitting still, yet still I listen. Guidance enters the vessel with pure precision, a choice to make daily. Why do we wrestle right decisions? Tussling with the test illusions carrying us away from the way we already know what's best. Come back home, beloved, you no longer have to beat an eagle's chest. Perch inside like an eagle in its nest. Followers quick Dave, into the next trend since the you always been taking heed to the riddles the elders were attesting. Now I'm years ahead with good investment. Just bump my head a little less than nonetheless, an imperfect perfection, a walk in prayer, avid meditator, realms of thought between each I'm a mediator, a metaphor of sorts, seeing obstacles as sport. I must master slow and steady. Wins the race. I learned that in the beginning chapters of a book without middle or end, life goes on again and again, I write on and on with my mind as my ink and my soul as my pen.

Donavan LeDean 12:54
Next man up, Dave,

Speaker 4 12:57
she stands alone. She stands behind a cast iron wall, drowning in self surrender, the loud quarreling from afar consumes her whole and then vanishes like the wind.

Unknown Speaker 13:16
She anchors for another touch, but all the lights are out and

Speaker 4 13:24
there's no one home. She is lost. Find her now. Take that battle from her mouth. She has no friends. When will this end? And the family? Well, that's oblivion. She's crashing hard. Until the very end, she stands alone and she's no one's home, no one can hear her screams. Is she enough to save her life? She fights for living to be alive, but when she wakes, she's torn into a pieces 1000 times

Unknown Speaker 14:11
this place dark for now, but it has to be better than where she came from.

Speaker 4 14:19
For the first time, she is taking in her own breath. She stands alone.

Donavan LeDean 14:31
Next man up, this

Unknown Speaker 14:33
last one I want to read is called naked. I feel this one in my heart as I read it.

Speaker 5 14:42
Do I deserve to be loved? Sometimes I feel my heart drop. It goes so low I feel empty. My chest feels light, my body feels heavy, my soul feels alone, not needed, not wanted, not loved, just alone. I've got love to. Give yet, there's no one to receive.

Unknown Speaker 15:02
Instead, I lay here naked with my heart on my sleeve. I've got love to give yet. There's no one to receive.

Unknown Speaker 15:15
I lay here naked with my heart on my sleeve. Thank you so much.

Donavan LeDean 15:21
Here we go. Here we go. Next man up.

Unknown Speaker 15:26
Hold on,

Speaker 6 15:29
standing on the freeway in my black suit, watching the world around me burning as I fidget and wrestle with my thoughts my clothes, reflecting on my life, going through various languages that I cannot speak, wishing that I could speak, being timid and meek and looking around, wishing and praying for a second chance to do things differently. What I can save, who I can save, surrounded with this guilt of feeling helpless, almost wishing that I were locked in a trunk, because anywhere would be better than this empty, open space. Suddenly, I see a wandering dog. I see a senior citizen. I see nomads. I see homelessness. I see people lost. People are lost in the fire, and all I want to do is protect them, but then I wonder, who will protect me? I'm stuck, stuck in this trans thinking of what I've lost and about what we have lost. Suddenly, I close my eyes and I open my heart, hoping that the world will hear my song. We are in the arms of the angel, but we cannot fly away. I can see you. I can see her. I can see your hurt. I can see his hurt. I can see her hurt. I can see their hurt. I can see everybody, everybody, everybody, sometimes I see that everybody cries. You gotta let yourself go, because everybody hurts, song. Sometimes, but I need y'all to hold on, hold on. Please just hold on, hold on, the

Speaker 7 17:50
next man up. Where do we go now? This is a forest wide out in the open air, with plenty place to hide and many more to seek. This is discovery. So many go alone, but will you go with me? I mean to journey on as many dare to do, is such a place to be, but better off with you and better off with us on the unwritten path. Let's make it worth the risk and all the aftermath.

Donavan LeDean 18:20
Next, man o Dave,

Speaker 8 18:23
this poem is titled wounded bird. I've been wounded. I've been cured. I've been healed. I've been hurt, I've been blessed, I've been cursed, I've been better, I've been worse. Life's a balance with verbs, putting my trust in the universe, even when the odds are against me, I still come up first. Let go of my ego and left it all to Mother Earth. I always had my faith. I didn't need a church, even at my lowest, I knew eventually it would be my turn. Not the most patient, but I'm always putting in the work. I always got pure intentions and keep my word. I sought help when my anxiety and grief collided, my trauma and pride tried fighting this girl's journey is like deep diving, uncovering new depths to my soul. Sometimes it feels tiring. Soul seeking is not for the faint of heart. It's facing your pain head on. Never been a victim. Been both Aladdin and Jafar. This journey has left me with scars. Without my art, I wouldn't have made it this far in order to protect my energy, because I got a big heart, let others deplete me in the past. Now I'm in charge. Now, I keep myself on guard. Stay sharp. Lately, I've been more in tune with the signs. The other day, I looked into an injured bird's eyes, could see its fear and resilience. It wasn't ready to die. Realized how many times I didn't give up the fight. Reminded me of how many times I've fallen, but took it as a lesson, how many times I've been betrayed. But it was a blessing, Mother Nature telling me great things are ahead, even though life's a challenge, this is my rebirth. You're about to witness the ascension of a savage

Donavan LeDean 19:47
next man up. Hello.

Speaker 5 19:50
So the first poem I'm going to read is called the colors of you thinking of painting. My canvas is blank. I put it on the easel and I grab. My paint, there are several colors that I choose, my favorites being the greens and the blues. I pick up my brush, I begin to paint, trying to envision what I will make, moving the brush up, and I strike it down. My wrists are so soft, they barely make a sound. I move the brush left, then I paint some on the right. My painting is coming together. It's really quite the sight. I step back to admire my art, I think about the meaning, and I realize it's from my heart. The meaning is so complex. Where would I even start? Maybe by describing the purpose of the colors in my art, or by telling you the first color I use is the color of your eyes, or how the second is the color of your hair, or maybe how the third color is representing how much I care, or how the fourth color is your favorite and the fifth is mine. I made them twist together, intertwine the colors together, show my love for you. And each time I look at my painting, I'll see our favorite colors and be reminded that you love me too.

Donavan LeDean 20:52
Next man up, Dave,

Speaker 9 20:55
passionate women who knew spiritual things wrap me up in your arms and bathe me in oils, clean me quick, before I spoil, pour in, ring out, remake me whole. I needed this. I'd be remiss if I didn't embrace the legacy laid before me, if I threw away the crown and renounced the royalty passionate women who knew spiritual things, pray for me please, if you may, if you might, speak life into me with my arms spread wide and my head held high, I call out, save me. Passionate women who know spiritual things, I'm sorry they mistake your passion for anger. I'm sorry they criminalize your expression of anger, and I'm so so sorry. There's so freaking much to be so angry about, and you never receive the same tenderness as your crocodile crying counterparts. You women who are mother, father, sister and aunt, who carry the weight of every mistake made by the women before you, by the men who disappeared, by the boys who hurt you and by the other girls with the same heavy weight, sad eyes and loud burdens, passionate women who know spiritual things. I'm so sorry we ask so much of you. I'm so so sorry you give more than you receive, and I'm so very sorry you only get the scraps of the world to make do with, only to have it stolen. My women of passion and spirit, I love you and I will sing of your praises and give you your flowers while their scent is still fresh and I can still see the glimmer in your eyes, because at the very least, you deserve the world as you are what keeps it turning my women of passion. Thank you.

Donavan LeDean 22:46
Here we go. Here we go. Next. Man up. Let me chime in on this one right here. Man, beautiful, the people mission. Don't talk about it. Dave, down. Government's on, shut down. I gotta find no hustle for right now, no wellness shakes, no support base, and their inflation is minimum wage. Hope I'm at London. Don't force the bank to turn me down for a long time, to kind of profile, to get many arrested for committing no crimes. More robbers on top, more problems the Reds do. Can barely pay the card. No on light bill, stressed out, yeah, stand tall with my head high. I refuse to kneel on welfare, on food stamps, but food prices are sky high in two weeks, though, food stamps won't be enough to get by rookie Dave a job because he owns strike, because the pay is low, inflation, spicy, got suicides, got pill addiction, got more debt with no remission, more problems that have more problems. Give it to us a human issue. I'm trying to solve more problems. It's a human issue. I'm trying to solve them.

Speaker 3 24:13
Next man up, Helen drome, one at sea.

Speaker 10 24:21
Can I achieve hope all by myself when I'm far off, almost lost in causing waves, in causing waves, almost lost when I'm far off all by myself. Can I achieve hope?

Speaker 4 24:49
In the absence of the sun, I dream of hope, but my eyes tell stories of a wounded heart throughout my trials and triggers. I have sought a better way to understand myself, to wrap my mind around this life and make it mine. I am in search of serenity's Gender touch, but these karmic entanglements keep me chasing the darkness that lives within combat comes with the price tag, and I must give in to complete the mission. In the end, I win again, because nothing can hold me down. I am here with reason and purpose to encapsulate and translate the multi dimensional arrays of the human experience, the light will shine through me guide my way back home. You.

Donavan LeDean 25:49
Thank you for tuning in to next man up. Poetry, emotion. I am your host. Donna Billy Dean, before we go, I would like to conclude with a power message. It's a message about emotions, don't let it get the best of you. In the midst of a conflict, think and ask yourself, is it worth potentially losing what you've built? Is it worth losing your freedom or potentially your life? If a conflict is not threatening to your life, then see if you have other options to diffuse the situation, such as a mediator or talking your way out of it without being a threat. Remember safety first to see my inspirational and poetry reels. You can go to YouTube at Donna village. Also, you can find my poetry books, children's books and coloring books on Amazon under my name, Donovan Lee D for actor or poet bookings. You can contact me via email, DV media, one zero@gmail.com Special thanks to my guest, Rachel daveurer for stopping by on discussing life and the significance of poetry for good mental health. I am Donna Billy Dean, actor, author and Inspirational rhythmic poets until next time. Peace. Pace Dave,

Unknown Speaker 27:02
you you.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Donavan LeDean and Rachel De Vera Elevate Mental Health and Cultural Identity Through Poetry
Broadcast by