Tess

Poetry and things I tell myself to sleep better at night 🇰🇪

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Yesterday's emotional bypassing is today's trigger.

[¥ @laylanaiim]

Please don’t ever trade your authenticity for approval. Let people dislike you.

[dennis ombachi OLY @ombachi13]

“No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown allies will come and seek you”
Carl Jung

[Tess @iamsocratess]

The “soft life” starts within you.

[مريم حسنا @Maryamhasnaa]

One of the biggest distortions I constantly see about ‘embodying the feminine’ is thinking someone else will come and create the life of your dreams.

True feminine embodiment means you’re already living it on whatever scale you’re in. It means you’re literally a creator.

[#OromoProtests @SeiseBagbo]

We have a show!!!
"Caged Bird"
10th - 16th Aug

It is an installation we are doing at Munyu Space, The Mall basement in Westlands.

The installation is about collective grief, communal care, and healing.

It is a progressive creation culminating on closing night.

Pull up!!!

[Tess @iamsocratess]

@Ngartia @WakenyaForKenya @mumbipoetry comes to mind!

[Tess @iamsocratess]

True relating requires openness and is more like an improv/ jam session.

However, some people have a script in their mind about what role they want you to play and even when they don’t know you, they get mad when you “go off script.”

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Maybe I’m lonely by @rachelchinourir is composed beautifully.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Agreed — the compliments and the critiques are still equally from their own understanding and perspective and can change at any time, so best to not be swayed either way.

[kemi @kemimarie]

side note — i believe it’s important to get comfortable with various ideas of you and come to a place of neutrality so there is no fear regarding whatever the image may be.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

💯! That’s why I don’t understand why people believe that soulmates can only come in the form of a lover!

[Onyango Otieno 🌻🇰🇪 @Rixpoet]

I cannot stress just how much my friends have saved my life. I certainly wouldn't be here. I would not have tasted love; the truly freeing love; for myself, for life and for the earth. My friends' love taught me somebody doesn't have to fully understand you to love you.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

And simultaneously having a great deal of empathy and guilt when you realize that you are also one of many people she prioritized over herself.

[Adesola, Ms Paper 🪽💜⭐️ @adesolaaaaa]

Being a daughter is often wishing your mom had chosen herself, even if means you wouldn't have been born.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Entitlement is such a big turn off.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Community requires that you push past the cringe you feel when you are vulnerable with others.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Worrying about looking cool is an obstruction to your authenticity.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

The best revenge isn’t your paper, it’s your peace.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

Senegal.

[Tess @iamsocratess]

@SeiseBagbo 🤣 wololo. Ironically, after I wrote that poem, I put fluent in Kiswahili on my CV. 😅

Planning for a show soon. I’ll work on my Swahili in the meantime!

I also think what you said about art needing to reflect the current times, beyond just serving as an escape is poignant!

[Tess @iamsocratess]

@SeiseBagbo Aww thank you! 🤣 not you reading my Swahili. 😅😅😅

[#OromoProtests @SeiseBagbo]

Day 20 #MWE

Live Poetry Show Ep by SocraTess

(I left this just yearning for a live poetry thing)

The way Tess says "young man" is so disrespectful it sounds endearing. Say it again.

Bringing in Kiswahili (a bit shaky) and Dholuo (flowed with jest), yes.

● Jaluo Oksechi

[Tess @iamsocratess]

There is a reason why most things that require conformity demonize having pride and praise "being humble."