My beloved wisdom womb surrounded by soft, brown flesh protecting magic forgive me for wishing you away
For cursing you and shaming you as I wrestled you into the jeans bought too tight just to impress that boy stuffing you inside girdles and other undergarments designed to control and confine your beauty
succumbing to the misogynist media narrative seeking to dissolve you in the name of purity and perfectionism I was taught the process of dissipating you never the power of your sacred protest
Forgive me for forgetting your sacrifice during the abortion
The day you held and protected my first born as I laid stretched out over my mother's casket
I, for a moment, failed to remember the grace and light you allowed when I only saw darkness
Growing and cradling my grandmother's eggs to bring forth life when I didn't know how I would even live
Your strength and determination to hold two nine pound babies to term How you held my sorrow for the three who I would never see My rainbow child still recalls the soft and calming swish of your cascading melodies / music she continues to push out into the world on her own
Even sliced and laced after two cesarean section, you still hold move beautifully How could I be ashamed of your capacity to heal and nurture us all If I never cried for you, I should never try to hide you
So I vow now
No more 'Spanx' or disgusted gazes in the mirror when you show yourself to the world You are my lifesaver My miracle maker My healer and the source of all my creation I love you and thank you My wisdom womb
Hey poetry fans, if you haven’t been to the Imperfect Gallery located at 5539 Germantown Avenue in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, you are formally invited to come out during the entire month of March.
The entire month will be dedicated to Women artists, and if you want to see me and the phenomenal Sabriaya, (check out her full bio on her website) a poet, educator and storyteller, then mark your calendars and stop by The Imperfect Gallery on March 14th, 2024 at 6PM. The $15 cover supports the artists with work on display, the performers and the beautiful art gallery.
Seating is limited, so please come early.
I’m honored to be sharing the “stage” with all of the talented women who will be in the space, and sharing some poetry that you’ve never heard before.
Feel free to drop a heart below and share your excitement about coming. Your presence would mean the world to me!
💥SAVE THE DATE 💥 I’m excited to join the other artists performing at the @officialbwafphilly 17th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival – a showcase of multi-media arts by women of African heritage!❤️
THIS is a #FREE #Live in person event at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St, Philadelphia on Saturday AND Sunday, September 16-17 2023 from 1pm-7pm.
🌟
Featuring:
M. Tonita Austin (poet), O (performance #art), Sincere Melody (#spokenword), Badd Gurlz Inq (#music), Naa Koikoi Aziza Zinzile Kebe (poet), Asha Mollock (film), @GhettoSongBird (music), Cassendre Xavier (musician/host/founder), Tamara L. Xavier (choreographer/#dancer), and more.
🌟All People’s Open Mic from 6pm-7pm both days, and more TBA. 🌟Vendors include Kai Moon Oceans (art prints, hair clips & earrings), Nina Bolden (#fashion), Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods, Rayla (#jewelry & #spiritual products) and Evyonna Stevenson (crotchet items for home, wardrobe #dolls) and MORE.
❤️I will hit the stage Sunday at 3PM, but I hope you come both days to support all of the phenomenal #BlackWomen artists !
It’s National poetry month and I hope you are reading and/or writing more poetry this month.
Please click the link below to see my first poem and blog post as The Mad Poets Society Poet of the Year. Please subscribe to the blog for monthly updates. We’re doing this all year!
Sometimes you have to forget that you’re somebody’s momma, someone else’s nurturer, someone else’s provider, boss, therapist, housecleaner, mentor, hero and role model and just be.
Be free.
Be in spaces and places no one would expect you to be.
Hair and toes out, dancing /swaying/moving/ calling in joy
Calling in Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, and every ancestor who conspired to form your hips, lips, and freedom.
Be seen, be joyfilled, be unapologetic
Be around people eager to give without expectation of receiving.
She’s here! I did it Daddy! 💥The paperback version of “Toni’s Room is available for sale! 🤸🏿♀️💓 I dedicated my first poetry book to my children because they are my biggest fans. It is currently available as Kindle version and paperback on Amazon. I am planning a few local book signings and also have signed copies available to order on my website at 👉🏽bit.ly/tonilovemerch . Thank you all and especially my coach Gwenn Prinbeck for gently pushing me to uncover all that I am. “What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think – or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?” ~ Brene’ Brown
I am so thankful for all of my supporters who purchased books, hosted book signings and helped promote !
Have you had your heart broken and are afraid to love again? Do you feel like you give yourself to others and don’t know how to love yourself? Do you yearn for a surge of passion and romance in your life? Do you love good music and poetry? If you can say yes to any or all of these questions, then do yourself a favor and click the link below to order my debut EP titled “The Restoration”. I intertwine poetry with the brilliant music of Robb McCall to explore all of the above emotions and feelings. As you allow yourself to become immersed in the music and share in my journey, I am confident you will fall in love with love again!
You can purchase the entire EP with the bonus track or download the digital version by clicking the link below:
If you would like an autographed copy of the EP, or a Toni Love T-shirt, please visit my site by clicking here —-> Order Toni Love Music and Merchandise.
All CDs, t-shirts and tickets ordered from my site will arrive with a hand written thank you note and autographed as you choose.
The Restoration is my gift to you. I believe we can do nothing without love first. I offer you a chance to release old love, rekindle your current love or to believe that the love you seek will become more than a dream. Get the love you desire today!
My baby has finally arrived! I’m so excited to announce that my first ever poetry CD/EP is available for purchase. There are six tracks and one bonus track of my original poetry and original music produced by Robb McCall of RPX Productions. I am currently working on getting the tracks formatted and uploaded to CD Baby so that the EP can be purchased digitally but until then you can email me at: tonitalove2@gmail.com and I will send you a PayPal invoice for $15 which covers the total amount of the CD and postage. I have a limited number of these special edition copies and I will personally autograph it for anyone who orders a physical copy. I am also happy to deliver the CD to you personally if you are in the Philadelphia area. Once again, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my GoFundMe.com contributors, family and friends. I’ve shared some of the comments I’ve received about “The Restoration” below:
Dope!
Loved it and the music enhanced the words. I would like to purchase a copy to share also!
Don’t ever stop doing what you’re doing!
You made me believe in love again!
I need three more copies!
Captivating!
Blown away in the most literal sense of the word!
I am thrilled at the responses but I think you should get your own copy and form your own opinion 🙂
I truly appreciate your support and thank you in advance for the LOVE!
Toni's Room 
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