“Outgrowing You”, the latest output on social media from inspirational spoken word artist, singer and songwriter Leeanna Allen, was written to empower victims of abuse, especially those who have experienced sexual abuse.
Since the upload, the poem has been receiving great feedback. Leeanna shared that when she wrote the piece sometime last year, she had realized that many of the poems she came across spoke about the victims’ pain and wounds from the repulsive act. While she empathizes with the victims and understands the need to do so, she compared poems like these to sad songs, where at the beginning the listener is sorrowful and by the end of it, still heartbroken.
“Outgrowing You” was created with a vigour to empower those affected by abuse. “My goal was to create something that would inspire healing and growth beyond the pain,” Leeanna said. “But also, to create something that encourages former victims to introspect and assess whether they have indeed outgrown their past hurts and if not, to seek God and professional help to address the effects of abuse because those experiences are likely still impacting their quality of life. My hope was to address the issue, not from a place of brokenness only, but the determination to overcome it.”
Addressing the importance of emphasizing on such an issue, the poet posited that most Guyanese, if not all, know of someone who has been the victim of some form of abuse. Even the women she knows know of someone who has been sexually molested or raped and this she added is not a Guyanese issue but an issue that affects women worldwide. Women, however, are not the only victims of abuse. Men, too, face the same forms of abuse, though many never report it or address it.
The video of the poem therefore tells stories of both men and women who have experienced abuse and some of the actions they took to outgrow their trauma.
Asked whether the piece was written from personal experience, Leeanna shared that when she was a teenager, a close friend of hers was raped and she was crushed by it, as if she was the victim herself. She went on to say that she too could have been a victim as a child had circumstances been different.
Some years ago, she read the story of Terry Gobanga, a pastor who was gang raped on her wedding day. She read of her journey marred with tragedy after tragedy, but how she overcame these experiences and hurdles and created something beautiful. In writing “Outgrowing You”, Leeanna consulted her memories of what she had read and tried to put herself in Terry’s shoes. She felt her own pain, anger and confusion but went on to say that more than anything she felt determination.
The poem does not just speak to outgrowing a person, but rather the lies, fear and worry that create the atmosphere that keeps someone chained to their abuser. Leeanna said that if a victim can outgrow the psychological bondage, he or she can find the power to do whatever is necessary to start changing the course of their life.
A mother of two handsome little boys, Leeanna noted that through the course of life, we all face situations that we need to rise above and while the poem was not penned with her sons in mind, she does hope that when her children are older they too will be able to glean some strength from the words of their mother.
Asked what qualities she believes we should look for in partner, she said, “The most important thing in my opinion is if that person should have God as the pilot of their life. Note I said God, not church; we often confuse the two. Another important thing that we often overlook is wholeness. Is that person whole in Christ or are they turning to you for completeness? I believe that the more whole each person is, the stronger the union is together. Note as well that wholeness is not independence.
“Additionally, examine your relationship; don’t just go along for the ride. There are red flags that we often miss because we don’t know what to look for or sometimes just don’t want to see them. There are signs that can indicate if someone has the potential to become abusive. For example, do they isolate you from your friends and family? Are they possessive and/or obsessive? Do they display destructive tendencies when aggravated/upset? Do they blame you for causing them to relate the way they did? These are just some red flags to look for.”
Videography for “Outgrowing You” was done and edited by Aubrey ‘APro’ Odle, while the audio was done by Paradigm Studios. To view the video persons can subscribe to Leeanna’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXVd… There are also other pieces available there: “Hour by Hour,” “My Confidence,” “Stand Tall” and “See You”.
Currently, Leeanna is working on another piece titled “Unconditionally”, which is slated to be released on Valentine’s Day. “This is the first poem I have ever written about love,” she said. “It’s a beautiful piece, largely based on my own experiences of love in my marriage to my husband Colin Allen. I’m really looking forward to sharing it with you guys.” Below is an excerpt from “Unconditionally”.
My love
I know that I don’t know all of you
But I know enough
To know that I want to spend the rest of…my life loving you
You have made my days better
You bring music and laughter and colour
The hues on my canvas utter your name
Who can blame these tones for wanting to make you their own
Your value outweighs that of birth stones
Let me hone your essence
Wrap you in my presence
And caress your soul
