SOUL OF A DIVA

A poetry collection offers a bracing call to be your own hero.

A diva is someone “who exudes great style and personality with confidence, expresses her own style, and doesn’t let others influence who she is or who she wants to be—fierce!” writes Cosmic Girl, who gives no indication of whether that name is a pseudonym. This last word, “fierce,” is the most important one, for understanding both the soul of the diva and Cosmic Girl’s poetry, which is all about channeling ferocity. Not surprisingly, then, the author shows a leonine spirit: “Behold the mighty lion! / Fierce and majestic, / Yet gentle and nurturing. / He is one who will give his all for those close to him / And strike fear into the hearts of those / Who cross him. / Being no stranger to adversity, / The mighty lion pulls strength from / These life lessons / To guide others with his wisdom.” Obviously, the fearsome beast is a complex symbol for the poet: tough yet supportive, intimidating yet wise. These many virtues, found in unexpected combinations, yield power. But make no mistake: That power is hard won; it is a strength gained through adversity. In “Warrior,” Cosmic Girl writes, “Battle! / I am a child witness of rape, / A daughter of divorce, / The child of a mother who was more / A woman of cunning and resourcefulness / Than a nurturer.” The poem goes on: “I am a single mother / Battling a crack-addicted baby daddy, / Trying to make ends meet, / Doing whatever I have to, / To make sure my son is safe, / To be sure he grows up as / A strong black man.” The poem ends: “I may be war-torn, / At times weary, / But never weakening. / I am a warrior!” There is subtle but powerful wordplay here, with “war-torn” giving way to “warrior.” It is our battles that make us resilient. This is a hard lesson, but it is all the more valuable for its hardness.

A stirring reminder—full of joyful shouts and stern admonitions—that it’s often our wounds that make us strong.