Creative on the rise!

Introducing Rhonda! 

Rhonda Yates  is an exceptionally talented and gifted poet, a versatile Musician, Painter and all round creative, with remarkable passion and determination to make impactful strides in the world through her craft and this is very obvious in her zeal and her consistency in the world of Creative arts, specifically poetry and music which speaks for itself. Her relatable and soulful style of writing is exactly why Rhonda is now here on the most prestigious Poetry platform in the world. 

Today, we take a foray into the world of Rhonda with excerpts below detailing her incredible story. 

“I am Rhonda, a poet, storyteller, and seeker of inspiration.  I reside in Indianapolis, Indiana. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Masters of Business Administration. I have one daughter, Mia, who attends college. I am one of those individuals who fully enjoys using ‘both sides of my brain,’ and I have been a lover of the written word since I learned to read. 

I have learned from my experiences that a Poet is a philosopher.  Within ourselves we are tasked to start with a clean slate, to turn away from formulaic demands and allow ourselves to exist in a space as an observer first.  We turn a thought around, over, under, inside out, simply so we can understand it.  We hold onto an emotion sometimes just to explore it further.  This is emotionally draining work at times, for sure, but I am so blessed to have the ability to translate some of the feelings and emotions we all experience into words that others can identify with and embrace. That is the most beautiful and poignant aspect of my creativity, when I see it speaking to others.  I wrote my first poem when I was eleven years old.  It was a dedication to my dog who had just passed away and I remember feeling something very powerful as I began to write.  It was almost like my brain and my heart would not be satisfied until I got all of those words down on paper. There was an urgency to pour out my emotions onto that paper that I had not felt before.

What I have observed in all the years since are these two irrevocable truths:  First, I am a person who needs to experience order and creativity to achieve balance in my life.  And second, it is the artistic expression itself that is the main thing, rather than the form of artistic expression that is utilized. In other words…it’s not what you create, it’s that you are creating something.  Some people create by determining their skateboarding routine, some by developing a charitable program, some by adding a bit of flair to the presentation at work.  The point is, I realize now that the beauty of creation is one of our most valuable gifts.

It is my honor to serve first my God, then my close circle of loved ones and my community.  Everyone who shares their poetry is a courageous soul, and each of us knows how meaningful it is to have our art recognized and regarded highly.”

So as a result of these revelations, Rhonda enjoys many creative pursuits.  She is a Poet and expects to publish a book of her poetry in the very near future.  She is a singer/songwriter and plays the guitar and flute.  She is a self-taught painter and sculptor who promotes her work at art shows.  She writes short stories and soon will plan to produce her first feature film. 

We asked Rhonda about her writing process and what she expects to gain from creative endeavors. “As for my poetry…it comes out at the strangest times.  I frequently will find a short poem written on the backside of an envelope or inside the cover of a book I was reading at the time. There are times when I feel the fragility and beauty of the human condition so strongly.  My aspiration is simple:  to use my poetry as a tool for synergy, connection to others, encouragement, and reflection.  Growth and happiness are outputs — they are only results of the actions we take. If the words I write can inspire someone to look inward, that action fully counts toward the introspection required for growth and happiness.  It is a beautiful thought in a sometimes ugly world, to know that the words we use with one another can help each other to grow and find happiness.

It is an honor to be featured by this prestigious and impactful publication.  Thank you for all you are doing for all of us!”

Rhonda Yate's abiity as a Poet and all round creative of repute is World Class as she was personally recommended by Multiple award winning, Bestseller and respected Poet, Joseph Spencer, as in his exact words "Rhonda is such a creative breath of fresh air. Her imagery takes you to places and her wordplay is one of the very best around and she no doubt has a very bright future in the world of poetry and creative arts.  A true Gem and versatile soul with a yearning for arts and a puritan mindset like I have not seen". 

 She will feature on the Collab Tour as an Official member of the club to promote her craft as an all round Creative.

Everyone at The Poet's Digest wish Rhonda Yates the very best in all her endeavours.

By J.T Edwards

(Editor)